Hello cruisers,
Leica here! Let me tell you about myself. I'm the multitasker mommy that dreams about scrapbooking...literally. I LOVE to teach, create and design for the ultimate scrapbook magazine ever...Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine. I talk lot's, smile & laugh even more and just really enjoy having a great time and meeting new people. I recently had our last baby, a little girl named Ireland, to which she added a new spice of life to my household of 2 boys (Riley:5, Jager:3) and my adorably funny husband Jim. We love the hustle and bustle of our busy lives.

So enough about me, let's talk cruising in the hot hot sun! yummy. are you guys excited for it? I definitely am, the weather in Saskatchewan has reached serious lows. freezing here!

So what can you start to expect about the cruise? Cause before we know it we will be boarding the plane. So make your list of what to wear, what you will be packing. I suggest taking little things from home instead of
buying as they are a tad more expensive there. Such as:
suntan lotion/sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, hair products (if you have long hair don't forget extra ponytails as it is quite warm always having your hair down,) & toiletries. don't forget that anything you take on the plane cannot be more than 2 oz in size or else security is the now proud owner of our yummy stuff! so with that said, take a few extra ziploc bags in multi sizes., just in case you need to put liquids into them so they don't spill on your new purchases! I found actually that a little emergency bag of ziploc bags, elastics, bobby pins, lip chap, and advil do come in handy.

There are sooo many things to do on this adventure! So let me describe to you a little excerpt of last year. It was such a rush boarding the ship, all of us scrappers totally excited, cameras out, snapping pics that we so know were going to be scrapbooked. Some of us had husbands and/or friends with us to share the experience. totally a bonus! I took my husband Jim, and I was sooooooooo worried that this would be his last cruise ever since I would be busy scrapbooking all the time and he would be bored, and what on earth would he do? Well let me tell you, he had a blast, met fabulous people and had no problem adventuring without me as there was so many things to do on the ship. Then when I wasn't busy, we would join up and explore the ship together. (let me tell you ladies, romantic!) The meals were fabulous, and shows were a must! So when did people usually scrapbook? We had a few days at sea, those were the best scrapbook times, and also when we taught the classes. There was lot's of free time to do your own thing, and some people chose not to do shore excursions, so it completely is up to you how you create your own vacation. Usually we did the excursions during the day and then scrapbooked at night, or else sometimes the excursions during the day and then we went to some cool shows in the theatre. They were really GREAT! Since us scrapbookers were such a large group, it was really fun mingling at the group cocktail parties. By the end of the trip I think everyone knew everything about everyone!LOL! The neat thing was just hanging out and visiting and seeing people create in their free time. Keep in mind, the space on the ship is cozy (you become great friends with your neighbor)

Over the next few weeks we will help give you more concrete ideas on how to pack your scrapbook supplies to achieve the most success.

So I was sitting trying to figure out what people really look for in a blog, what would you like to see from us? So I came up with this list: but please if there is stuff you would like to know, please leave us a comment! we'd love to hear it.
  • more personal conversations from the crop and cruise team
  • information about the sponsors and maybe some examples we have created using their products
  • better packing tips in general
  • contests (my favourite!!!!!)
  • travel tips
  • info about the different port of calls
so let's get you involved more...
I have a little contest for you.

just answer this little question. what do you prefer?
single page layouts
double page layouts
mini albums
projects

so what will you win from this random draw??? (fingers crossed that this interests you) but I will give away a custom Leica created layout for you just to be able to put your own photos and journaling on. It will be created using products from our sponsors. yummy!

ok, till the next time we chat. can't wait to get to know you guys more! ciao.

26 comments:

CRAFTY JACKS said...

I prefer mini albums and projects because they seem do-able. There isn't the pressure of starting a large scrapbook, they are small and they can be done in a few days.

Anonymous said...

Um... yeah! pretty much SO excited to embark on this journey. I check the website and blog almost everyday hoping to see alittle something new.
I am really getting into mini albums lately - I Like how they can be more interactive than scrapbook pages and have a beginning and an end. I feel like I have really accomplished something when I am done.

Carrie Hamm said...

Count down 1,092 hours left till the cruise day.

I like to hear about travel tips, packing and port of calls.

I enjoyboth single and double I'm about 50-50 my self and projects!!!

Carrie Hamm

Izzy said...

I prefer mini albums! :)

Colleen said...

Hmm-most of my layouts to date have been double page layouts. I am starting to do more single page layouts. I finish mini albums and projects. What do I prefer...today's answer would be single page layouts.

Anonymous said...

Love to do double 12x12 pages but I've just started doing some smaller 8x8 (that's as mini as I go-for now!) albums...it's amazing what you can get in those little guys!

Kari said...

I use to be a double page girl but beginning to love just single page layouts and mini albums for special moments/days.... PS can't wait until March 20...since I can not make the cruise =(

Linda Brown said...

Hello my name is Linda and I am so looking forward to this cruise.

I prefer double page layouts.

Linda Brown

Anonymous said...

me? i LOVE mini albums. love the feel of them in my hands when they are done, love that the size/content varies each time and love that i can get A TON of pics in one.

thanks for the tips, very useful!

kdgowdy said...

I am becoming a fan of single page layouts! This was hard to switch to after being a die hard dbl-page girl!
Love your layouts! Hope I win!...Kim Gowdy

Anonymous said...

I love single page layouts but it seems that I can't get away from my new addiction of DOUBLE L/O's! I always have so many great photos and I want to use them all to tell the story! So my fav is double!!

Tara said...

I have always been into double and single layouts, but recently since joining a scrapbook splurge, we do alot of projects and mini albums, I am starting to come around to mini albums to give to family members as a little something "extra" to go with their birthday or christmas gift.
Tara

ScrappeeDiane said...

I'm loving Mini Albums

Lynne Mizera said...

I just LOVE any kind of Scrapping; but I must say that 2008 has beent he year of the MINI Albums and one-time projects. Ever since I took the classed on the 2007 Crop & Cruise I just can't get enough of the one-time thing!
Scrapbook Lynne

Red on the Run said...

I prefer double-page layouts. Looking forward to leaving the snow for some SUN!!!

Anonymous said...

Karen Sunderland - I prefer projects and mini albums. Sure am looking forward to some warm weather -40 is getting a bit tiring.

Anonymous said...

Shelley Kuta - Although I live in the Rocky Mountains, and they are beautiful, I am so looking forward to this scrappers get-a-way. As a beginner in scrapbookking I prefer double page layouts because I need all the help I can get, and two pages get done but I only have to come up with one theme - bonus.

Anonymous said...

I like them all! I just want to get away...

Anonymous said...

I am so excited for the cruise. I have never been anywhere truly tropical before. Most of my layouts are 12 x 12 with a 5x7 pic, but I just love to scrap so it's all good.

Jenn

Anonymous said...

Scrapbook Addict, HELP! I need a 12X12 step program! I started scrapbooking back in 2000 just after my daughter was born & I started out doing double page layouts & apparently I got really addidcted to this hobby! A 2 page layout is no longer satisfying! I now have moved onto doing between 10-12 double page spreads to tell my story! My books are very fat! My daughter is 8 & I have 11 books of her life so far! I like doing any projects because I am always looking to learn new techniques! We are are worst critics aren't we! I would love to learn more about digital scrapbooking cause it will take me about a year to scrapbook this trip & potentially be very costly!!

Later, Sharon Anderson form Calgary

Anonymous said...

I have got to really like the mini albums. I have made quite a few for my scouts to remember there journey to their Chief Scouts Award.

Linda Benz

Anonymous said...

I have got to really like the mini albums. I have made quite a few for my scouts to remember their journey to their Chief Scouts Award and it has been fun.

Linda Benz

Anonymous said...

I really like to do double pages layouts. It gives me more room for pictures. My travel albums contain mostly double pages.

Anonymous said...

I used to do only double page layouts but now I'm hooked on single page layouts. Hoping to get caught up faster that way :)

Jodie Hardy

Anonymous said...

I like to do double page layouts in my albums because I can put in more pictures to tell the story. I also like to do mini books to give away. Barb Laisnez

Anonymous said...

I like double page layouts.