Creative Escape Preview Day 1

I missed the bus.

Well, actually, I guess it was more of an SUV carpool, but I missed it. The Bazzill girls were going to pick all of us Preview Day-goers up at the hotel at 8 a.m. and drive us over to the Bazzill Basics Paper offices/warehouse. At least that is what it said on my paperwork. And what I had confirmed the day prior, but I rushed out to the lobby at precisely 7:55 a.m. and there was no one to be found. I checked my cell phone (does anyone where a watch anymore?) and, indeed, it was one minute until 8 a.m. No one looking scrappy was in the lobby, so I wandered outside.

And there was Tim Holtz sitting on a park bench. Well, they wouldn't have left TIM behind, would they? So I must not have missed them... I called Frani (if you ever have the pleasure of working with this spitfire, do so. She'll keep you entertained ... BTW my thoughts are with you, girl) and it turned out, both Tim and I had missed the carpool. There was a wee bit of a communication error and we were supposed to have been ready at 7:45 a.m. Oops. I told Frani I would quickly drive myself over. "Throw Tim in with you," she said. OK. I turned to Tim, "Well, I guess I'm your chauffeur." Good thing I got the car washed and vacuumed before I left home!

We made it in plenty of time for the first classes, were graciously apologized to for the error in communication about the meeting time, and handed some very "Heidi" beaded name badge lavalieres. Tim said he would embrace the pink, so I figured I better, too. After all, there were some great GREEN beads in there as well! (BTW, anyone who knows me personally, or happens to be my Secret Sister for an upcoming scrappy event, knows I am not a big fan of pink, although I am learning to appreciate it in small doses.)


I found a seat in the back, by the center aisle, where I could relax, yet still see the front screen well. I was there to learn something great! And I couldn't wait for the first project to begin! Now, I must bleep out a lot of information here, as the projects are supposed to be a HUGE surprise for CE attendees. So, Heidi went first and had this great BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP Kelly Goree from Basic Grey did some fabulous BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP and after lunch, Janet Hopkins and Laurie Stamas' projects were BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP! To sum up, I think it will suffice it to say that I do not think anyone will be disappointed. I learned something new in every class and the variety of projects was incredible. And that was just with Heidi, Kelly, Janet and Laurie teaching! Jenni, Tim and I are on tomorrow! (No pressure, no pressure ...)

Before lunch (which was a delightful, and colorful, spread of fruit, veggies, sandwiches, bags of chips and brownie bites), those of us who had not had the pleasure of visiting the Bazzill warehouse before were given a tour by Cardstock Queen Carol,
who clearly knew more about cardstock than any one human should. For instance, a popular Bazzill cardstock, such as Piglet, can go through 6,000 parent sheets of cardstock in a month. Parent sheets are what the various sizes (12 x 12, 8.5 x 11, etc.) of cardstock are cut from, and, if I remember correctly, are 36.5 x 28.5 inches (please don't quote me on that, I did not have a notepad with me and am doing this from memory! How did I know I would be learning all sorts of juicy cardstock details?!). Colors like Raven are ordered in the tens of thousands of POUNDS twice a year.
This long machine counts out cardstock into 25-sheet bundles and shrink wraps it for shipping. Yesterday it made 12,000 different 25-sheet shrink-wrapped bundles!
All of the parent sheets are kept on palettes (that's me gesturing to the warehouse shelves of it behind me)until ready to be cut. Each palette is labeled with the amount of parent sheets (It looks like a palette carries 3,000 parent sheets) and Bazzill color. I seriously wanted to roll around in the cardstock, as I have joked before, but it was all so beautifully organized in groups and piles
that I would have felt tremendously guilty for messing it up! So, I refrained, and took a picture of Heidi with some pink (how appropriate!) cardstock instead.
After we finish each of our projects, we have to keep them "under lock and key," by placing them in individual cardboard boxes, which we will get back at Creative Escape. Here is mine:

Then came the volunteer picture.
Heidi went to new heights for the shot, but it should pay off in the handbook. And, last but not least, was dinner out with the rest of the teachers, where we were given a pep talk by Heidi, got to pertinent details about the event and the stiff leading up to it. I also had the pleasure of hearing her talk about her life in China. So interesting and very thought-provoking.
And these are the boxes that contain my Preview day goodies for tomorrow! Now I have go to go to bed so I can have my A-game ready ... wish me luck!