Album Retreat

I wanted to share this wonderful blog post by Kristine for the Album Retreat I just attended.  Below are photos of the album contest entry I did for the retreat.  I will be posting the directions and more pictures for the haunted house display once I get the project back from corporate.

A retreat to remember

Kristine here, with a deep thought: I've never understood the word "retreat," as is "Album Retreat." To me, the word has often meant to fall back, but every time I've attended a Close To My Heart Album Retreat, it feels like a giant step FORWARD. That's because when we retreat, we make great progress—creatively, and in our friendships, and yes, even in our purpose and goals for our future. Honestly!

Last weekend, the Close To My Heart Album Retreat brought together 200 friends to Salt Lake who immersed themselves in creative education, fabulous camaraderie, late-night adventures, soul-searching insights with presenter Stacy Julian, terrific food, and an all-around good time. And we all completed a gorgeous Artbooking-centric scrapbook album and mini-book to boot.

Here are a few photos from the event, from the ballroom full of happy scrappers, to the corporate staff, to the beautiful mini-album made by Tamra Pope that garnered first-place in our contest. It was such an extraordinary labor of love—right down to the cemetery and spooky tree—that we thought everyone might like to have a closer look at this terrific craftsmanship.

And while we don't have another Album Retreat in the upcoming schedule, there are SO many ways to "rediscover" your creative passion with Close To My Heart—the Holiday Gift Guide is in full swing, National Papercrafting Month is just around the corner in January, and of course, there's a brand new Idea Book coming in February. Lots of reasons to "retreat" into your craft room or with friends and make great progress on what brings you joy!