It’s been over 3 weeks since we’ve returned from our weekend of creating, crafting & fellowshipping together. I always look forward to this event each year, and am so blessed with our time spent together!
My annual retreat begins on Thursday night at 7pm, at the Boulder Ridge Retreat center. Some drive 1-2 hours to attend our weekend getaway, while others are “right up the road”. We were completely full to the brim this year – and maxed out at our location!! When I put out the announcement in Aug of this past year – the retreat spots were filled up in just a couple days!
When each attendee arrives, they have a FUN set of goodies on their table!! I love to see their reactions to their gift that they receive each year. Each night after midnight, the “scrapbook fairy” makes her debut, and leaves another goodie on the table for the ladies to enjoy when they wake up in the morning….and no- not everyone was asleep when these were handed out.
It was fun to create some Cricut cuts from the Close To My Heart exclusive collections to go with these gifts. The camera (on the pillow box) & the coffee cup (stick to pack of mini-medleys) were well liked by all.
I also created a few little gifts as a thank you to those that did a little extra by helping out this weekend. (thanks to fellow consultant , Ms. Aaron Brown, for her gift bag ideas! :)) What kind of gifts you may ask?
- We have gifts for those that brought their own 6 ft tables (yes I need to rent tables too!) A pack of My Crush paper clips were inside…
- A gift for the 3 ladies that offered to share a devotional on Fri & Saturday morning. Thank you Wanda, Dani & Mary K for your willingness to share with us! God used you all in a mighty way with the items you shared.
- A gift for those that were my “team leader” for the meals. (a little “thank you” stamp set was tucked inside)
We did our food set up a little differently this year – and that means we didn’t have as many team leaders, but rather had ladies bring a dessert, or a veggie tray, etc.
We still had plenty of food (ok – more food than we needed – LOL!) and it was ALL fabulous as usual! 
This shows you our Friday mid-day “snack”…yup, plenty to go around…and there were refills in the refrigerator too– LOL!
This shows you our Friday mid-day “snack”…yup, plenty to go around…and there were refills in the refrigerator too– LOL! 
We played games throughout our time together – of course it was optional, and you only played if you wanted to join in. We did a Scavengar Hunt of the SE1 mini-book, an Alphabet CTMH game, Take the Balloon game and a few more.
Throughout the weekend we earned tickets in many different ways. (this was new to us this year) Not sure if we’ll keep the same format for next year – but I will say we had a lot of FUN with the ticket earning…I was forever counting out tickets for those that earned them!!
Friday night we had massages….and then we had some Saturday morning too!!! – yes – we felt a BIT spoiled!
Friday evening, those that were interested, joined in my 2 page make n take class. You can see the ladies were busy creating away – they didn’t have time to look at the camera! LOL!!!
Here is the layout I created for the class.
To see more details & up close photos for this two page spread CLICK HERE.
We had to do an April retreat weekend this year, usually we have it in March – but Easter arrived on our “normal” weekend of us being together. So having a later date, we thought we’d have a nice warm weekend….
well, it wasn’t bitter cold – BUT we did have SNOW arrive on Saturday!! Oh my!!! It didn’t lay on the roads, and melted rather quickly – well, because it IS April – but it was a beautiful sight!!
This year, for the 2nd time – we pre-announced a card swap for anyone that was interested. We had 9 participants and everyone made their cards prior to retreat, and then brought them along to "swap" and get card ideas from each other! Take a look at these BEAUTIFUL cards that everyone created!!! Thank you for sharing your fabulous talents with us!! I LOVE the cards each of you created!!!
Another “Special” thing happened this year at this retreat…I was so blessed & honored to welcome my cousin all the way from Kansas!!! (she’s in the green vest)
It’s been a joy to be able to get together with family, and create/scrapbook together. We all enjoy papercrafting of some sort, but it is rare that we are ALL together – especially because Jessica lives in Kansas!! My aunt Judy flew Jessica in for her 40th birthday this year…what a special treat to have her join us for our annual weekend!! It was a joy to have you join the rest of “the Givens clan” at our creating get-away. For the past 5 years (I'm guessing) my aunt Joanne, cousin Jodi & Aunt Judy & my Mom all join me for this crafting weekend.
I also feel so blessed & so thankful for my Mom!! My mom has supported me and continues to support my crafting hobby & my CTMH business. My creative gifts do come from Jesus, but they have flowed on down through the hands of my mother too ….what AMAZING scrapbooks, cards, projects SHE creates!!! Growing up, I attended craft shows with her, where she would sell her handmade quilts, pillows, childrens activity books and so much more! I guess I learned well what I was taught, and its a JOY to share this common thread with my wonderful Mom.
We finished off our weekend with some other FUN games, and of course we had our scrapbook layout contest. Why do we do this…they are all such BEAUTIFUL entries it’s so hard to choose just one!!! Thank you ladies for sharing your lovely creations with us!!!
We finished our Saturday by pulling tickets for the door prize winners & we had 2 prizes where EVERY friend’s name was entered in to win …the GRAND Prizes!! This year we had a large CTMH organizer & the Regatta WYW kit. The pre-excitement is so much fun…and then after the announcing of the winner – the energy & congratulations are so wonderful to here too! This year’s winners were….
Anna and Mary Lou!!!
Congratulations to EACH of you!!
Thank you once again to EACH of you for joining me at this weekend get-away! I’m already planning next year’s & look forward to having you join me then!!
Blessings to each of you!!
Krista Hershberger J
Close To My Heart Independent Consultant
Celebrating 9 1/2 years with Close To My Heart!
The perfect place for ALL of your Scrapbooking, Stamping, & Papercrafting Needs!
PINTEREST: http://www.pinterest.com/kristascrafty/
Love our ever calm hostess that we enjoyed all week-end. Had a wonder time even the beautiful snow before we went home
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thank you once again for a wonderful time!
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