This is a video from the weekend at Crafts Direct in St. Cloud, MN.  This video highlights a little bit of everything – from the hotel room, the swarm, the Gypsy and Viva Talk, Giveaways, Singing in the car… you name it – its all here!

I was so blessed by all the support and followers that came out!

A very special lady, Denise, gave me a 31 purse bag, because she knew that Above Rubies Studio was based off of Proverbs 31, which is also what the company 31 is based from!  I’m actually going to post a pic of the purse and such later – cause its really a cool company if you haven’t heard of it before.

Another woman drove 5 1/2 hours just to come up and say hi at the store…others traveled several hours as well, and its just awesome to be a part of this crafting world!  So much fun and so encouraging!  Thank you for allowing me into your homes through the world wide web, and thank you for the support you all are to me! Its just awesome!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Upcoming Events:

We (meaning me and my husband and two kids) are going to try to head back to Minnesota for Scrapfest at the Mall of America this September.  We are trying to get a few more details worked out – but I think I’ll be there.

October I’ll be heading to Orlando for more fun and exciting travels and then November I am going to be doing a few other fun things I’ll be announcing at a later time!

Man before I know it – January will be here and we’ll be heading out to Los Angles for the next CHA!!! So fun!

Thanks for following along on this amazing journey!

I’m EXHAUSTED – but Can’t wait for this upcoming week!

Char won a DVD at the Swarm

At the Crafts Direct Store with the ad for the times I was at the store.

Shawn and I having fun too

This little girl was SO sweet and enjoyed watching all the demos and so we used Viva Decor Inka Gold to paint some hearts and flowers on her hands and cheek.

Love this girl…Hi Sheila

Sandy is going to come work for me (just teasing, but) – she was such a helper

Just having some fun!

Ok – really more pics and more videos of make and takes and alllll that jazz to follow – but I need to take a few hours to edit the probably hour or more of video taping I did – and I’m simply TOO exhausted!

Night and see you tomorrow!

I can’t wait to share TONS of pics and videos….

I’ll be heading to the huge Cricut Swarm tonight where I’ll be teaching the Gypsy and Viva decor products and then I’ll be in the Crafts Direct Store from 1-3 tomorrow doing demos and fun stuff as well!

Can’t wait to post more soon!

I just wanted to post an updated reminder that I’ll be at Crafts Direct in Minnesota THIS Weekend!

I’ll be at the store from 1pm-3pm on Saturday and I’ll be doing other fun things that their swarm as well.

It’s going to be a great time – so if you’re in the area between 1:00 and 3:00 – make sure you come stop by and say hi! 

Can’t be there???  That’s ok!  I’m going to bring my camera and film lots of videos to share with all of you that are followers of AboveRubiesStudio.com!  Love sharing the fun with as many as possible!

And just to mention…..

Lots of travels in my near future – so I’ll be sure to keep you all posted where and when I’ll be so that you can possibly stop by and join me!    I am trying to keep travels to a minimum for events and teaching, but its still fun and I’m doing what I can to get to many parts of the Country as possible.  If you are interested in having me appear at an event – I have limited dates available, but I would be more than willing to chat with you or your local stores about it!

Hope I’ll get to MEET YOU soon!!!!

Can’t wait to release all the goodies to everyone – and remember space is VERY limited on this – in order to make sure we provide the best service possible and don’t go too big too fast, we had to limit the number of members on both levels to best serve everyone!  If you want in, be fast!

More info….I keep getting asked…

We have two levels of membership that are sure to fit everyone’s budgets…we offer discounts to those who prepay months in advanced.

Club Ruby offers monthly kits of the latest and greatest in paper crafting supplies sent directly to your door every month…but thats only scratch in the surface of what Club Ruby is all about!  We have exclusive forums for members to ask questions, get answers, share stories and much more.  Members will get their own profiles where they can share as much or as little with the Club Ruby Crafting community as they would like.  We even give members their own way to post blog posts for members who don’t have blogs, and for members who do have blogs a great way to get your blog seen!

We have an ever growing video Library with how tos on the monthly kits – over 50 project ideas and instructions that are made by our very talented Design Team who provide step by step instructions for you to re-create this great projects at home with ease!

Beyond just the kit videos and tips and tricks videos, Members get first time exclusive looks at the upcoming DVD releases that Above Rubies Studio will be putting out!  Sooooo exciting!!!!!!   That means that members will get to view the upcoming 123 DVDs online through Club Ruby before anyone else will even have the chance to!  Members will also be able to purchase the actual DVDs at a Members Only Exclusive price…just one of the MANY MANY perks of being a Club Ruby Designer Member!!!

Ok – soooo I know you’re all ready – soooo here it is…. www.ClubRubyDesigners.com GO GO GO GO!!!!

Now I’ll be a little self indulgent and share just a few pics from this past week at the studio!

New Profile Picture that Daphne took – she’s the best!

Jena making sure Aunt Daphne takes time to EAT while we were working so hard!

Seriously crashing from many hours of filming and trying to get some creative mojo flowing again to keep going!

Ahhh!  Stress relief!  I LOVE singing at my church – this was Wednesday night practice – and some how no matter HOW tired I am – Music Practice ALWAYS recharges my batteries!

Ok – see you tomorrow for SURPRISES and another Tuesday Tutorial!!!

This is the most RANDOM mix of songs, but truly what I LOVE to listen to when I’m craftin’ away! ….

1. Way Back Into Love -  Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore (Music and Lyrics Soundtrack…fav line from song… “I need inspiration, not just another negotiation”  how TRUE that line can be when scrapbooking!)
2. I Need You Now – Lady Antebellum “It’s a quarter after one, I’m all alone and I’m scrappin’ now…. lol”
3. Insecurity – Donny Osmond “If I told you what I feel for ya baby….if I told you that you’re driving me crazy” (of course you all knew he’d be on this list at least once right??)
4. I Gotta Feelin’ – Black Eyed Peas “I gotta feelin – woooohooooo” (Several reasons this is on the list, but it was a GREAT song to dance to out at CHA in January so it’s STUCK on me for that too!)
5. Smile – Uncle Kracker “You make me smile like the sun, fall out of bed, sing like a bird, dizzy in my head…” (Yep I have people in my life that make me feel JUST like that – and I’m usually scrapbooking pics that have to do with them…so it’s quite fitting)
6. Must Have Done Something Right – Relient K “We should get jerseys cause we make a good team….everyone watching up just turns away with disgust it’s jealousy they can see that we’ve got it goin’ on!” This is like a best friends kinda song – I love it!
7. Tear Drops on My Guitar – Taylor Swift “He’s the song in the car I keep singing don’t know why I do, he’s the time taken up, but there’s never enough….” Just adore Taylor and this song!
8. Rockstar – Hannah Montana “I’m unusual not so typical way to smart to be waiting around…I can fix the flat on your car (true story from CHA) I might even be a ROCKSTAR!”
9. Alone – Glee Cast “Till now, I always got by on my own, I never really cared until I met you” (I stinkin’ love all the Glee soundtracks even though I’m not really a huge fan of the show – the music makes me smile!
10. Hey Soul Sister – Train “Just in time, I’m so glad you have a one track mind like me, you gave my life direction” (come on, how can this tune  not make everyone smile?)
11. Why Can’t I? – Liz Phair “Why Can’t I breath whenever I think about you, why can’t I speak whenever I talk about you….” (I can’t help loving this song and Thirteen Going on Thirty is in my top 5 fav movies to scrapbook to!)
12. Good Day- The Click Five “You’re lookin’ for something you can’t find, if you give it up you’ll loose your mind, there’s always something in your way, what can you say? Gonna have a Good Day”  (this song was like me theme song one summer and it just sticks with ya!)
13. Best Friend – Toybox “He’s my best friend best of all best friends, do you have a best friend too?” (Absolutely ridiculous song that gets STUCK in your head and you can’t help but love the tune and sing along!)
14. Take Me Away – Fefe Dobson “Take me away, take me far away from here I will run with you”  (The perfect song after a LONG day with two toddlers! hahaha )
15. Whenever You’re In Trouble – Donny Osmond “Whenever you may need me, I will fight for you, I will help you through, whenever life’s deceiving, I’ll give you new meaning…” (Yes he makes the top 20, 3 times total!)
16. When I Grow Up – Pussycat Dolls “When I grow up, I wanna be famous I wanna be a star, I wanna be in movies…” (maybe not the cleanest of all songs on my list, but sometimes it makes me smile to dance to!)
17. Love Of My Life – Donny Osmond/Jim Brickman – “I guess this is how it feels, when you finally find love that’s real, my angel in the night, you are the love, love of my life” (The song my hubby and I first danced to as man and wife…and yes – we did dance to Donny singing it, by Sean’s choice! See why I married him? haha!)
18. Summer Sunshine – The Coors “In the heat of summer sunshine I miss you, like nobody else, in the heat of summer sunshine, I’ll kiss you, and nobody needs to know…” Doesn’t matter if its winter, summer, spring or fall, this song puts a little sunshine smiles in my life.
19. One Year Six Months – Yellowcard “I’m fallin’ into memories of you, things we used to do” (Perfect for the memories you fall into while scrapbooking.)
20. Blessed Be The Name of The Lord – Tree 63 “Blessed be Your name, when the sun’s shining down on me, when the world’s all as it should be, blessed be Your name…My heart will choose to say, Lord Blessed Be Your Name” (Even with my crazy mix of music – this song honestly stands out as still one of my all time favorites!   There are many of stories I could tell everyone about how things song has rung true in my life and how God has greatly blessed me, even in times of trouble and depression.  I’m going to leave this music video to this song here – its my favorite and I almost cry every time I sing this song at my church!)
    

    Click here to view the embedded video.

And that will wrap up my top 20 list!  I have a MUCH longer list than this – and while its a CRAZY crazy mix, you get a little peek into the world of Megan and scrapbooking!

Ok and I’ll give my Top 5 Favorite Movies to Watch While Crafting quick too:

1. Music and Lyrics
2. How to Loose a Guy in 10 Days
3. Thirteen Going on Thirty
4. 27 Dresses
5. Just Friends

Hope you all are having a great day and enjoy the weekend!

Oh and one other note – I did notice someone else comment about going to Scrapfest in MN September 16-19th – Final plans have no been made official – BUT – I do plan to be back in MN for Scrapfest – so maybe I can see some of you there who can’t make it to Crafts Direct August 27th-29th!

Heres a little clip of the fun and giveaway we did…. also our farewell from the hotel… CHA is so much fun!  We just had a blast!

Click here to view the embedded video.

OPI has just come out with a new color line in honor of Shrek the Third and there it was….

The color of that big green ogre! It hit me!!!!

I had to get my toes painted… I needed it, I needed it now!!!!

Because not only is this color the same as everyone’s favorite ogre, it’s also the SAME as EVERYONE’S favorite bug….
Drum rolll please!!!!!!!!!

I present to you……
Cricut Green!!!!!!!!
(the real color is called “who the Shrek are you?” by OPI)

Then…. I just had to take it two steps…I mean two toes further!!!!

Quickly I pulled out my iPhone and pulled www.cricut.com up for my nail tech to see! “I need that circle Cricut head on my toes! I must I must!”
Scratching her head my wonderful friend shrugged her shoulders and said, “ok Megan!!!”

I proceeded to explain I’m ready for CHA and I will see all my Cricut friends…this is just tooo perfect!!!

Sooo here it is… What do you think???

The other day I gave you all a “sneak peak” at some of the things I made for my Partner, Cammi!

Now, today I want to share with she gave to me!!   I received my box yesterday, and let me tell you, yesterday was one CRAZY “bad” day for me, so the box was DEFINITELY a BIG HUGE Bright Spot!  It was like CHRISTMAS!!!   SOOOOO FUN!

So what do you think?  Want to see some pictures and maybe even get some inspiration from Cammi?

I’ll go through 1. – 12. of all the “projects” made and the key words used to create each one!

1. Share and Share A Like (Accordion Box FILLED with stamped images ready for Copic Coloring) – I just LOVE this! This one is absolutely my FAVORITE! I love the colors she used for the “purse” and I can’t believe all the time she took to FILL this with such adorable stamps!!!

2.  The flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of Yesterday.  (A Scrapbook in a box – let me tell you these flowers are BEAUTIFUL that she put on the top of this AWESOME Box! So much inking and details, just made perfect!)

3. Put Your Big Girl Panties On! (I LOVE THIS PROJECT!  It is so cute and DEF up there with my favs!!!! Thanks Cammi!)

4. Not All Its Cracked Up To Be…Family Picture Frame made with crackle paint!

5. I Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Paper! (Very cute little message board and the adorable pink tin with stamped candles!

6. What Was I Thinking? (She made this very cute little wall hanging – because I am ALWAYS thinking about my Kids!)

7. One Mans Trash is Another Mans Treasure: (She made me a cute set of cards from all her scraps)

8. Gibbers Do It Old Tool! (an altered Hammer – How fun!)

9. Time Flies By.  (Now this was taking the words to a different box TOTALLY and I think its so cute…Cammi glass etched this set of glasses for me – because its always five o’clock somewhere! LOL I love it!)

10.  Button It! (such a sweet little box that is filled with buttons and brads – and the buttons on the drawers – just love it!)

11. All Blinged Up and No Place to Go! Lots of goodies in this one – Including some GREAT Peachy Keen Stamps!! YAY!  She gave me a Copic Marker AND This Blinged up Flip Flops!

12. You’re Such a Blockhead Charlie Brown! (Cute little blocks ready for my pictures – they will look SO cute on my craft desk!!!)

SO these are the BEAUTIFUL fun things I received!  Cammi will be getting her box today – so I can’t wait to share with everyone the fun things I made and how I made them!  Sooo Check back and you can keep checking out awesome creations Cammi makes over at Cuttin-up.blogspot.com!

That also means THREE Major things for me this month…. But I’m only going to talk to you about one of them right now!

CHA Super Show (For General Public) and the CHA Trade Show (For Retailers/Wholesalers Only)

I feel like we just got back from the Winter Show in Anaheim in some ways…but I am SO Pumped for Summer!

There are lots of fun plans in store for us!

We are not getting a booth of our own this year as I plan to be helping out other retailers this year…BUT I would still LOVE to meet anyone that is coming and wants to say hi!!!!