Crop and Cruise

WOW!!!

Within only a couple weeks of opening registration for our next Crop and Cruise Scrapbooking Cruise in November 2010, we already have

OVER 25 ATTENDEES!!!

Remember, we are offering an extra gift for the first 25 cabins so be sure to register soon if you know you want to come!!

And if you prefer a LAND vacation, we still have room for you to join us in Cancun, Mexico for our Crop Tropical Scrapbooking Escape at an all-inclusive resort in Feb. 2010!!

Just imagine!

REGISTRATION is now OPEN!!

It's time!!

Registration for our next

Crop and Cruise

Scrapbooking Cruise

to the Caribbean in

November 2010 is

now OPEN!!

This past weekend registration for our next ultimate Crop and Cruise Scrapbooking Cruise to the Caribbean opened and within minutes we received the first registrations and already have a wonderful group coming!!! We have a few "repeats" from past cruises and several "newbies" excited to join in on the fun!!

If you are also thinking of joining us,
know that we have a

special gift for the first 25 cabins

that register and pay their deposits
so don't delay too long!
And prices are still only

$995 CDN per person (or less)

so know that we are doing our best
to make it affordable!

Just imagine...

Simply go to www.CropandCruise.com for more information!!

Registration Opening SOON!!

We are excited to announce that REGISTRATION for our next

Crop and Cruise Scrapbooking Cruise to the Carribbean

November 14-21, 2010 will open on

Saturday, November 14, 2009

(exactly one year to sail date!!)

And don't forget that

the first 25 cabins to register

will receive an extra special gift on the cruise!!

Simply go to www.CropandCruise.com on Nov. 14 to register!!

Announcing details for our next Crop and Cruise!

We know many of you have been waiting a long time for this and we are pleased to announce the new details for our next Crop and Cruise Scrapbooking Cruise for Canadians!!

CROP AND CRUISE

Scrapbooking Cruise for Canadians

November 14-21, 2010

Western Caribbean

Join Allison Orthner and friends for the ultimate vacation experience onboard Carnival's Conquest cruise ship sailing the ocean blue through the Caribbean!! We set sail out of Texas and will visit Jamaica, Grand Cayman Islands and Mexico amidst fun days at sea!!

Our affordable prices start at only $995 Cdn per person for double occupancy (including accommodations, meals, taxes and port charges, on-board entertainment, private cocktail parties and other exclusive Crop and Cruise group benefits) and go as low as $799 Cdn per person if you share with family or friends!

Registration will open soon (on time for Christmas gift-giving!) and

the first 25 cabins to register

will receive an extra special treat on the cruise!!

For more information, visit the Crop and Cruise website and continue to watch here over the next few months for more delightful details!

And if cropping on a cruise ship isn't your thing, be sure to check out our "sister event" called Crop Tropical which takes place at an all-inclusive resort in Cancun, Mexico February 6-13, 2010... a true family event with FREE golf and FREE for kids 12 and under!!

Just imagine!!

Call for Instructors Open one more Week!

Crop Tropical

Scrapbooking Escape

to Cancun Mexico in February is on the lookout for some fun, talented instructors to join our team!

See details on www.CropTropical.com under "instructors" and be sure to apply this week!!

Meanwhile, enjoy this fun video we taped during our last Crop and Cruise Scrapbooking Cruise for Canadians and watch here for more details to be released for our next Crop and Cruise coming in the Fall of 2010!!!

Announcing Crop Tropical!

It's official!! Crop and Cruise has a "sister" event called Crop Tropical that is designed for those who prefer an all-inclusive resort instead of a boat!

We will be heading to Cancun, Mexico in February 2010 and staying at the Grand Oasis Resort where all food, all drinks, entertainment, gratuities and taxes are all included!!

This event is also especially designed for husbands (golf is FREE) and families (children 12 and under stay for FREE).

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN and after only one weekend have 25% of our spots spoken for!! So we think we might need to secure some more as it looks like it might turn into quite the party!!

Check out the details at www.CropTropical.com.

And for those eagerly awaiting the next Crop and Cruise, we are working on the details for that to take place in November 2010 so watch for that as well!!

Coming Soon....

We have something extra special in store for the early part of 2010!!!! Spots will be limited, but the HOT TROPICAL FUN will NOT!!!

And YES, we are also still planning another CROP AND CRUISE in the Fall of 2010!!

TWO ultimate events in 2010 for your crafting and photography pleasure!!

Watch for further details to be released soon...

We Need Your Vote!!

With our Crop and Cruise Scrapbooking Cruise for Canadians having an emphasis on photography, it's no wonder we have some AMAZING photos that were submitted to our friendly photo contest!!! And now we need your help to VOTE ON A WINNER (anyone can vote... those on the cruise and those dreaming about the next one in the Fall of 2010)!!

We tried to narrow it down to the top 5, but just couldn't!!! So you have 11 different photos to vote on!! All were taken during our February 2009 Crop and Cruise Ultimate Scrapbooking Cruise Vacation by a wide assortment of attendees (we do not know the "owners" of these photos). The top two winners will each receive a $25 gift card to www.Vistek.ca to help meet your photography cravings!!

Let's begin!

1. St. Thomas - love this beautiful view of St. Thomas including the stunning blue waters, green islands and our cruise ship parked at port! Take us back there!!!

2. Sandals - what else says "tropical vacation" better than a pair of empty sandals on the beach!! Love the funky angle and perspective captured!

3. Miami Sunset - one of my favourite life experiences to capture on "film"... a beautiful sunset!! Love the city scape silhouette and rich colours with the big sun slowly dipping down!!

4. Laughing in the Waves - does this just not say it ALL!!! Fun, friends and a HOT time playing together on a tropical vacation!! Great job capturing the waves and faces at just the right moment!!

5. Karaoke - indoor photos are always a challenge, but this one POPS with colour, motion and hilarious memories all encapsulated in one shot! It's like we can still hear them singing!!!

6. Iguana - I know how hard it is to capture critters and this photo is not only up close and personal, but get a look at the intricate details that jump out from his eyes to his scales!!

7. Hammocks - okay, maybe it's because I love relaxing in a hammock, but totally love the funky angle of this one and the very inviting message... come relax, lie back and enjoy!!!

8. Flamingo on Beach - LOVE LOVE LOVE it when I see people having FUN with photography! Think this pink flamingo with our cruise ship in the background is oh so creative!

9. Feet in Sand - this "anonymous" shot speaks volumes not only about our vacation, but life in general... enjoy the journey... one step at a time! Great composition (rule of thirds)!

10. Circle of Friends - this photo makes me happy and proud... oh so happy to see the awesome friendships that developed over the course of the cruise and oh so proud to see how creative everyone was with coming up with new ways to capture one another!! Cool perspective!!

11. Blue Waters - there is just something about the calm, tropical blue waters that is perfectly inviting!! This photo has great composition and very simply just makes me wish I was back there dangling my toes in the ocean!!

Okay... time to VOTE!!! Again, this is open to anyone!!! Please leave us a comment indicating your top 3 picks from the above photos!!! We will close voting at the end of May!!

AND... as an extra BONUS, we will also choose someone who leaves a comment to WIN a special treat from one of our amazing Crop and Cruise sponsors!!!!

Thanks for playing along!

Allison Orthner

Fun Hot Off The Press Layout!!

Check out this fun layout that Laura Nicholas from Hot Off the Press / Paper Wishes (yet another great Crop and Cruise Sponsor) just sent to us! She was in Calgary for the annual Camp Croppin' event and I invited her to join me on LIVE TV with our special guest host Scott Coe from the Calgary Stampeders!!

As you can see, Jill Hildebrand, Leica Forrest, myself and Laura all had a great time helping Scott scrapbook and promoting our Crop and Cruise Scrapbooking Cruise for Canadians!!

Thanks Laura for sharing!!

Allison Orthner

Spring Fever .... achooooo!!!!

Congrats to Jennifer on the WIN!!!!! Enjoy the BG products -- they're FANTASTIC!!!!

Hi Everyone!!! Just Jill checking in to see how everything is going. Yes....I've been following the Crop and Cruise Blog and have been itching to post again, however, other things have gotten in the way. I'm just getting over a nasty cold (head, nose, fever, etc.) and hoping & praying that my kids don't get it from me. Anticipating getting my scrap-space back in working condition, as we JUST finished some huge renos on our house (main floor) and my office is sitting in piles in our back upstairs bedroom. I should really post a before / after photo on this one 'cuz you will not believe it after I get everything back to working condition. I'm soooooo excited!!!!

Although I have NOT started working on my cruise album yet (I did a HUGE 12x12 album for the 2007 Crop and Cruise -- over achieving, I guess), I am looking forward to getting my paws on all that Luxe paper and the Prima Build-a-Book project that Trisha gave all of us. I know.....pattern paper can be scarey for some of you but, believe me, I am sooooooo excited to create something with all of it and show you that it doesn't need to be a project you sweat over -- Trisha's album ws gorgeous!!!! I'm addicted to PP (the first step is admitting it, I know), so I will share what I create with you at a later date. {check Leica's out on her blog}.

So.......wanted to share some pics of some layouts that I've created lately with the Making Memories Kit we all got from Deanna on the cruise. I added a few more MM products to the kit & some Riff Raff Designs images. Other than that, everything is Making Memories -- love it!!!!! I simply took the kit (baggie in hand) to my basement -- away from my scrap-space -- so that I would ONLY USE products from the kit. It was a bit of a challenge -- not being able to go into my office and pick my latest & greatest from other companies, slapping some paint on whenever I wanted, grabbing whatever I wanted from my embellishment muffin tins and stapling it on (you all know me by now!!!!) -- but I actually stayed within my rules and kept the layouts to Making Memories & Riff Raff. Yeah!!!!!!

enjoy.

Hope everyone enjoys their day.

Spring is finally here.

Go outside, rake the lawn, play fetch with the dog, go for a walk.

{you can scrap tonight}.

smiles from Manitoba,

jill

Blog Giveaway WINNER and more layouts!

So some of you have been waiting a long time for this announcement! We have a winner for our Basic Grey goodness Blog Giveaway...

Jennifer R said...

I am just working on the card kit for the Marrakech paper line and I must say I am in love with the elephants. A close second would be the Porcelain line, very soft and feminine!

So not sure which Jennifer this is??? Could be the ever fabulous Jennifer Rowsell or the wonderful creative Jennifer Reynard or another just as amazing Jennifer R...???? Let me know and you will receive a bundle of Basic Grey including a chocolate brown chipboard album and some Porcelain samplings to help create it with!!

Here are some Basic Grey layouts I did for a fun TV segment recently with Becky Fleck showcasing some of their newest releases and her PageMaps book!! This first one is using the Porcelain line...

The Marrakech line is absolutely divine for rich colours!!

And this one also using Marrakech was completed in about 3 minutes during our TV segment...

A HUGE thanks to Basic Grey for sponsoring our Crop and Cruise!! Continue to watch here for more layouts from some great companies and of course the occasional give-away... my mommy taught me it's good to share!!!

Allison Orthner

Another Blog GIVEAWAY!!!

In celebration of Becky Fleck from Basic Grey coming to Canada, we are doing a

Blog GIVEAWAY!!

Basic Grey was a generous sponsor of our Crop and Cruise Scrapbooking Cruise for Canadians to the Caribbean in Feb. 2009 and we want to share some with you! Simply leave a comment by April 15 answering this question:

What is your favourite line from Basic Grey?
If you're not familiar with them, click on the logo below and check them out!

Meanwhile, be sure to watch City TV on Friday, April 3 at 8:30 am MST when Becky and I will be creating a Page Maps Layout using some wonderful Basic Grey goodness!! Here is a fun and quick one I created using the Crop and Cruise kit...

Looking forward to reading what Canadian scrapbooker's favourite Basic Grey line is!

Time for some CANADIAN layouts!!

What is a Canadian layout? In this case, it is one made from products from some fabulous CANADIAN companies!!! Like this one from Kelly Panacci and Sandylion designed by Kathy Thompson Laffoley!

Bisous (pronounced "beezoo") has a most amazing line of PDQ papers... "pretty darn quick" and that they are!! I created these next 3 layouts in about 10 minutes each!! They are pre-designed papers where all you really have to do is add photos (you can still add a little extra if you really want to... I added in some American Crafts Thickers and Prima flowers and bling!)

And I really like their PDQ journalling pads!! What an awesome way to quickly add the story behind the layout!!

More sponsor layouts to come (and some more giveaways!)

Layouts from Our Sponsor products!

How much fun to have some of the industry's TOP companies sponsor our Crop and Cruise Scrapbooking Cruise for Canadians!!! Here are some layouts I created with all our goodies... be sure to click on each company logo to see more inspiration and/or to send a note of thanks!!

First, one of the most widely known amazing companies... Making Memories! This layout was created using Marvy circle punches and the Making Memories "Paperie" line.

Next is Upsy Daisy and we totally LOVE this Canadian company (and the ladies behind it are simply delightful!!) They have such a wonderful variety of papers, rub-ons and stamps... this layout is done with their "Cupcake" line...

Magenta is another amazing Canadian company that has amazing products especially their stamps and "Peel Offs"...

Luxe is full of fun, energy and fantastic colours and I've always heard their rub-ons are some of the best in the industry... YES folks, their rub-ons do go on like butter!!!

Tattered Angels and their Glimmer Mist is simply too much fun to create with!! I haven't had the chance to work on the kit they sent for the cruise, but wanted to still share one of my favourite layouts using their screens and mist!!!

So continue to watch here for more inspiring layouts from our sponsor's products and of course we'll throw in an occasional blog give-away as part of the mix!!!

BLOG Giveaway Winner (Finally!!!)

Sorry everyone for the delay on this... but we finally have a winner!!! Our random winner generator came up with comment #42 from:

DAWN HUESER!!!

Is this the Dawn from Saskatchewan and will you be at the "Saskatchewan Crops" event with Leica Forrest March 20-21, 2009? If so, I can hand deliver you your goodies!!!! Let us know!!! If not, please email your contact info to info @ cropandcruise.com.

Continue to watch over the next several months for more fun giveaways, layouts from our amazing sponsors on the cruise and of course developing news on our next ultimate...

Crop and Cruise
Scrapbooking Cruise for Canadians
coming FALL of 2010!!!!!

We're Back!

I want to start off by saying I think we had the MOST AMAZING team of instructors on board with us this year!! Each one brought their larger than life talent and personality to the experience and I want to personally thank each one (from left to right)... Leica Forrest, Jill Hildebrand, Trisha Ladouceur and Deanna Hutchison!!!! You are truly Canada's TOP ladies for so many reasons and I was honoured to work with you!!

And we can't forget the fabulous Canadian Scrapbooker editors who joined us as our special guests!! Katharina Doyle and Jackie Ludlage... you are truly special ladies and it was sheer pleasure to have you on board to PLAY with us!!!!

Now how does one pick just a few photos from ohhhh so many???? Here are just a couple of my initial favs!! First... a fun perspective of our ship docked on the ocean blue...

This shot at Great Stirrup Cay island is oh so close to the image we use for our advertising, but this one is OUR ship, OUR camera and OUR beach shot!!! How cool is that!!!

And then I'll end today with a couple favourite sunset shots... how much fun to capture these together with several of you on deck 13!!! Anyone else get the boat in the sun that evening?

And if you wait long enough, many times the sky will give you a completely different array of colours!! LOVE this one also showing the wake at the end of the boat as we sail away from our island!!

More to come!! Meanwhile, for those Canadians who didn't get to join us, remember we are doing a blog giveaway that ends this Friday, March 6 so be sure to check the blog entry below and leave a comment to enter to WIN!!!!

wow wow wow!!!!cruising is the most fun ever!

okay, cruising is the life. The following post is going to be from my perspective (Leica) as everyone has so many stories to share with you!!!! A little teaser...

I will tell you a little about it as I sit with Jim in our hotel lounge watching the Las Vegas Nascar race. (we are race fans, and so glad to be sitting and chillaxing!) we spent the day touring around Miami, South Beach, Fort Lauderdale. It is a zoo. Spring Break has started and this state has been invaded by young people...EVERYWHERE.

so we started out boarding the cruise in Miami, and we sat on the boat looking at the sites. Everything in Florida is blue, beautiful and warm!!!! recognize this road??? watch CSI Miami? after the cruise Jim and I were let into this security area (I think the security guard didn't feel like working or must have thought we were famous (LOL!!!!)cause he lifted the security gate and waved us through. so of course we went in to look at the multi million dollar houses and yachts. We were looking everywhere for Horatio and his new crime scene.

anyways, this skyline was really neat. this is the part in the ocean where the cruise ships turn around. We had Jackie Ludlage, her mom & dad, Katharina Doyle and Deanna & Geordie Hutchinson with us as all side by side on our balconies enjoying the departure as we left port we all loved visiting together as we watched the land get farther and farther away. such a great experience with friends. I highly recommend it to EVERYONE!!!!! look closely at the photo below, do you see the building that has one whole floor that you can see through?? how cool is that? There are lot's of buildings down here like that.

the next few are going to be random shots, with a little explanation.

Laura Lees (aka Buffy-Jill's sister) riding the donkey. lot's of laughs had by all.

of course where do farm girls go for shore excursions?? well we go quadding of course!!! can't take us too far from the farm...BUT as I make a little fun about ourselves. WE HAD SOOOOO MUCH FUN!!!!!! I definitely have about 30 pictures from this excursion!!!! LOL! but it was priceless. IT was so unique because the kids all come out to slap our hands as we drive by. they are fascinated about the tourists. however, this is not always a good thing as in Samana, Dominican Republic that we did this at, the kids skip school in hopes of getting money from the tourists. sad, education is sooo important.

we saw a waterfall, the beach, (quadding on the beach was absolutely fun, I would love to do that everytime I travel anywhere from now on. Are you in???

Look at Miss Jill, looking sexy

Katharina Doyle (Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine publisher) took this photo. She has a brand new Olympus Camera that will "seam" together your photos so you can have a panoramic photo that you don't have to edit when you get home, it does itself on the camera in seconds. Pretty darn awesome! This is a photo of St. Thomas, the U.S. Virgin Islands. We took a fabulous tour here with a group of about 16 of us. FUN FUN! Pretty island, with lot's of places to buy bling. however, if you get a good tour guide you can see the best of what the island has to offer.

In Tortola (british virgin islands) we hired the most awesomest local to just drive us around. we saw the whole island and loved the sites! on one of the walls going down to the beach was a wall full of murals. absolutely stunning. this is just one of the 20+ photos.

In all the ports it was like a race to the pier. Cruise ships were always everywhere. and if you didn't get there in time you had to tender in on little boats, which wasn't that bad, kinda fun actually. so at Tortola, this ship pulled up beside us.how cool of a photo is this???

I don't know why but I loved taking different pics of our ship from all angles. I guess it will never get old. the exotic feel of cruising, the life, (you HAVE to join us in 2010!!!!)

okay, just a small selection of pics. Kyle Busch is leading the race, 27 laps to go, must watch the rest with Jim. but keep tuned all the rest of this month for more pics.

keep in mind, if you were on this cruise, please send us your favourite pics to share with everyone. I have a goal...

TO SHARE PHOTOS OF EVERYONE THAT WAS ON THE SHIP WITH US. I want to see the madness, the excitement, the unique shots, and of course the blue speedos. Brad, are your sharing yours with us???

until the next post.

BLOG GIVEAWAY while We're Away

Our final blog entry before leaving for our Crop and Cruise the Caribbean 2009 and it 's going to be a giveaway!!! This is for all Canadians not joining us on the cruise, but wish you were!!

You will win a lovely sampling of products from some of our amazing sponsors!! I'd take a photo, but it's all down in Miami right now waiting to be loaded on the cruise ship!!

To enter, please leave a comment telling us where you think the next Crop and Cruise Scrapbooking Cruise for Canadians should sail to????

It may take some time before your comments will appear as internet access on a cruise ship is not optimum, but know that we will pick a winner on Friday, March 6!! Meanwhile, we look forward to sharing some goodies and some memories from our trip once we return!!! They may look something like this...

MY PALMS ARE SWEATING . . .

...my heart is pumping, my bags are packed and I am walking out the door. Just said 'good-bye' to the kids & hubby. Can't believe it's here already and we are all gonna be partying together really -- REALLY -- soon. I can't wait to meet every single one of you -- and I'm incredibly excited to see all of you that were with us last Crop and Cruise!!!! Woohoo...............what a Blast we are gonna have!!!!
Not long now................!
happy travelling,
jill

a little eye candy...

so the countdown is here. we leave in 2 days. can't wait. So I was reminiscing about our fabulous companies. we are blessed to have such fabulous support. so I thought I'd show you a few of my favourite layouts I've done in the past few years with some of our sponsors product. Look for new stuff after the cruise, we will have lot's to show. until then...

the above layout is one of my favourite ever. So simple, showcasing the awesome Hambly. LOVE the teal circles!!!! Then I added a little Luxe jotters for my journaling, their rub ons for decoration and obviously the fabulous Prism cardstock!

this layout, I spritzed and sprayed, multi colours of Glimmer Mist all over this layout. I used Prima felt for a border and loads of their flowers, Rose Moka papers layered and layered. Of course Clearsnap Colorbox ink!love that goodness.

here is one full of Luxe patterned papers, ribbons, letter stickers and Prima flowers. (see a habit???)

This one I did for Basic Grey's website a few years ago. I loved it. the picture is so full of fabulous memories. Basic Grey patterned paper & chipboard. Making Memories rub ons. They are still my #1 rub on ever made. Ranger glossy accents. great product!

This is an assignment I did for the Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine "all about me". Lots of Prima flowers. Ranger alcohol inks.

this one is so fun! A mix of Hambly transparencies that go with any product line. In this case a2z. but the Luxe rub ons again.

This one is created with all different colours of Clearsnap Colorbox Ink, the Scor-It board, Gelatins fabulous stamps. you will get to play with these on the ship!!!!!! yummy!

This one I did for Stampin Up! It started out as a plain white sheet of paper, I used their stamps to layer and create a background.

The Scenic Route paper is fabulous!!! They always have such great stuff. I also loved using American Crafts thickers for the title. such clear, well made alphabet stickers.