Weekend Retreats for Central Plains States USA

[lbjiowa]

Okay all you digi-scrappin addicts! It's that time again! We are going to our favorite pampering retreat center and overdose on PIXELS!!!

We have the retreat center reserved for two weekends this year! Hope one of the weekends will work for you!

DATES:
September 26-28, 2008
November 14-16, 2008

LOCATION:
Clear Lake, Iowa ... 3 miles off Interstate 35 (2 hours N of Des Moines, IA and 2 hrs S of Minneapolis, MN)

Hostess comes from Minneapolis so carpools can be arranged for you 'northerners'!
Carpool available for NW Iowa guests.
Possible carpool already underway for the Des Moines area.

Your food (which, BTW, is FAN-TAB-U-LOUS!), snacks, and beverages for the entire weekend are all included in the price of the retreat. If you haven't joined us before, you'll want to know that the facility is WONDERFUL! Double-padded mattresses, luxury linens, new & padded workstation chairs, quiet & cozy location esp in the fall!

Weekend reservations are only $220. We have a Bring-A-Friend deal that saves both gals $20 (hey! we like to see the scrappin' addiction shared!)

Post here or send me a DSP note if you have questions. I live in VERY remote NW Iowa so must drive 'into town' to gain access to the internet, so please be patient for me to respond ... DH appreciates my frugality where gas is concerned.

[QueenShakeNBake]

I talked to my DH and am anxiously looking forward to the November 14-16, 2008 Weekend Retreats for Central Plains States USA in Clear Lake. Let me know what I need to do to confirm.

I will be driving from Des Moines in case anyone wants to carpool.

[lbjiowa]

I talked to my DH and am anxiously looking forward to the November 14-16, 2008 Weekend Retreats for Central Plains States USA in Clear Lake. Let me know what I need to do to confirm.

I will be driving from Des Moines in case anyone wants to carpool.

Yay! We'll be seeing you there (consider yourself CONFIRMED - we'll take care of payments when you get there)! Have been chatting with the retreat owner/hostess about some of the updates they've been doing in preparation for our visit. Some nice techie things that we'll be using for classes/tutorials etc. Now we just have to pray for good travel weather.

[lbjiowa]

Things are moving right along!

Due to my travel schedule the September Retreat (26-28) has been cancelled. If you signed up for that weekend I've already sent you a personal email to work out the details. Sorry for any inconvenience...life just doesn't slow down (I'm just curious ... any empty nesters out there who really DO have MORE time now that the fledgelings are gone???)

We are up to seven attendees as of today ... room for a total of 12 so if you've just been 'thinking' about joining the fun in November don't hesitate! You don't have to 'commit' at this point, but letting me know you're considering attending will help us with the plans.

Heard from our hostess ... she tells me the 'workroom' (tee hee ... work ... tee hee :lol:) has now been outfitted with an official projection screen ... yay! Viewing the projected images will be so much nicer on the reflective screen rather than the white board ... THANK YOU Annette!

As always, we'll have great snacks, beverages, projects, freebies, and laughs!
See you there?:yes:

[QueenShakeNBake]

I can hardly wait.

[lbjiowa]

Just saw this in the October Newsletter! How fun!

We already have 8 ladies who've 'reserved' a spot at the retreat!

Work is well underway on a great WELCOME gift for all attendees (megakit sound good? templates? treats??? you'll have to come to find out!). Our official INVITES to past attendees and 'students' will be going out this Friday so can't wait to see who all signs up ... this is going to be another great retreat! :yes: :yes: :yes:

See YOU there? :wave: :wave: :wave:

[lbjiowa]

At long last, the details are done!:tup:

Retreat center is ready!
Kits and templates are done!
Classes and tutorials are all ready.
Menus prepared.
Equipment all prepped.
Invites sent (to those who've given email addys - oh you SHOULD see these invites!:cool::cool::cool:).


Now it's your turn :yes:... just

download the registration form (see below),
fill it in, and
send it to me (PM if you need my mailing addy)


Click HERE (http://www.4shared.com/file/67134645/4127c667/2008_Fall_Retreat_Registration_Form.html) to download the registration form. It's an Adobe pdf so you can fill it in with Adobe's Reader software (nice feature if you have messy writing like me:eek:.

See you there?:wave::yes::wave:

[lbjiowa]

Just in case anyone wants to see the actual invites ... click HERE (http://www.4shared.com/file/67140645/7c658d20/You_are_Invited.html)!

It's an Adobe 'presentation' (slide show). Just say YES when it wants permission to display a full screen presentation. Then use your arrow keys to control the direction and speed of the show.

Just for fun ... the presentation was made totally in photoshop. I actually made a QuickTime video too, but it's too large to upload to a file sharing site so downscaled it to the presentation.

[lbjiowa]

ooooooo-you should see some of freebies :D being developed for the Midwest Digi-Chick camp attenders! :cool:
... maybe :rolleyes: I'll post a teaser :shocked::shocked::pray::shocked::shocked: later this week ... ??? !!!

Nine of 18 spots filled! Gonna be fun!

[lbjiowa]

Time to add a post for this spring's retreat!

DATE: March 6 - 8
LOCATION:
Clear Lake, Iowa ... 3 miles off Interstate 35 (2 hours N of Des Moines, IA and 2 hrs S of Minneapolis, MN)

Our hostess comes from Minneapolis so carpools can be arranged for you 'northerners'!
Carpool also available for NW Iowa guests.
Carpool underway for the Des Moines area.

Your food (which, BTW, is FAN-TAB-U-LOUS!), snacks, and beverages for the entire weekend are all included in the price of the retreat. If you haven't joined us before, you'll want to know that the facility is WONDERFUL! Double-padded mattresses, luxury linens, new & padded workstation chairs, quiet & cozy location esp in the fall!

Weekend reservations are only $220. We have a Bring-A-Friend deal (someone who's never been to our retreats) - both gals save $20 (hey! we like to see the scrappin' addiction shared!)

This spring we are going to take suggestions from everyone for the tutorials and FREEBIE kit ... post your ideas & requests in this thread!

Post here or PM me if you have questions.
NOTE: I live in the VERY remote NW Iowa so must drive 'into town' to gain access to the internet ... please be patient for me to respond ... DH appreciates my frugality where gas is concerned.

[lbjiowa]

HERE (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36386) is the poll for tutorials available for the upcoming DigiChick Retreat (March 6-8, 2009). We will offer the top 4 tutorials based on the results of the poll ... so don't forget to cast your vote!

. . . if you would like to see us teach something NOT on the list add a post to the thread and we'll see what we can do!

[idtwinmom]

I am getting more and more interested! Although the March retreat may be too soon, maybe next fall! Any way, off to check for flights, etc and then to talk with DH tonight.

[lbjiowa]

I am getting more and more interested! Although the March retreat may be too soon, maybe next fall! Any way, off to check for flights, etc and then to talk with DH tonight.
I'm just now getting a new thread started for our Spring Retreat (March 6-8) ... we would LOVE to have you join us! There will be 6-8 other DSPers there, as well as gals who are not 'yet' DSPers! If you can't make it in March, then DO watch for our Fall 2009 Announcement?!

btw...I'm really enjoying your entries in the Trendsetters!

[MJ]

Is there a fall retreat?

[lbjiowa]

Is there a fall retreat?
In fact, we DO have a retreat on the calendar for this Fall. The dates are Oct 16-18 with an early bird arrival option of Oct 15.

Right now we only have one bed left, so we haven't advertised it. We are working through the possibilities of opening up another weekend in the fall ... if that does happen I will be sure to post a note here!

[jcdsmith]

Hey all you digi-scrapers who were at the Spring 2009 Retreat, I just posted a LO in my meager gallery w pics taken last "spring". Take a look. It is located here: http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=332072&ppuser=140275

[lbjiowa]

Hey Judy! That was a great weekend ey? Look at the snowbunnies! Gotta love the beautiful and crazy midwest! Let's hope winter doesn't arrive early this year ... wouldn't it be nice to have some of those famous fall colors in our group photos at the
Oct retreat?!!!!!

You found the perfect elements for your page design...very cute page!

[lbjiowa]

Thought I'd post a note to let you all know that the Fall Retreat 2009 is already full!

Meanwhile, we are in the process of scheduling a second Fall Retreat ... will post info as soon as it is available. It will be for the first weekend in November and will be focused on Beginners to Digital Scrapping. I will start a new thread as soon as I have all the details.

CAN'T WAIT to see all our DigiChick Friends again!!! Lots of fun, lots of freebies, and some great tutorials this fall!!! Be rested up and READY for some SERIOUS FUN!:cool:

[lbjiowa]

We have opened up a second retreat for this fall. Here's the info:

DigiChick Retreat
Nov 6-8, 2009

The Instruction Plan for THIS fall (the topics change each time we conduct a retreat)

Friday 5:00 pm Check-in
7:00 pm Intro to DigiScrapping Class
(NOTE: This class includes Clipping Masks and every class throughout the weekend depends upon your ability to effectively use clipping masks. If you are already using Adobe's photoshop software (either CS or Elements) but don't know how to use clipping masks...you'll WANT to attend this class)

9:00 pm Challenge!
Saturday
8:00 am Breakfast
9:00 am Create your own Custom Alpha
Supplies needed: A purchased digital paper from your collection. A font that works well as an Alpha Element. A layout that you'd like to add a title or alpha element to.
10:30 am Create your own Chipboard Edges
Supplies needed: The custom alpha from 9am class (or bring an element to use if you didn't attend the 9am class). A layout you'd like to embellish with the newly "edged" alpha or element.
12:00 noon LUNCH
1:00 pm Stringing elements onto a string
Supplies needed: A set of PNG files which include a string/ribbon and some items that would look nice if they were "strung" onto that string/ribbon. A layout to add the final embellishment to.
2:00 pm BREAK/STRETCH
2:30 pm Extractions
Part 1: Gotta have Tools
Part 2: Power to the Tools!
Part 3: Harnessing the power

Supplies needed: Two photos-one with a single item with a strong contrast to the background (example - a flower on a black background); and one with a more complicated object (examples - a baby sitting on the floor in front of all their toys, a bride and groom standing at the alter)
5:00 pm GIVE ME A BREAK!!!
You'll be needing one after all that work on extractions!
6:00 pm DINNER
7:00 pm OUT-OF-BOUNDS Technique
Learn how to create an OOB in five minutes or less!
...and this is NO cheesy OOB...even your designer friends will be impressed with your results!

Supplies needed: A photo that would make a great OOB image in a layout. Generally one with action (a moving person), or arms/legs stretched outward from the body, or a photo taken from a perspective other that face-to-face straight-on. Browse the galleries for some examples.
9:00 pm FAQ
This is your chance (as a group) to ask questions about techniques not covered in the tutorials.
Sunday
8:00 am FINAL EXAM :eek:
Gotcha! :) We have a special challenge for you - you will be given a layout and a list of WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS LAYOUT questions. The challenge will be to find and correct the problems.
9:00 am DigiChick Store Hours
All weekend you will have opportunities to "earn" DigiChick Dollars (class participation, layouts completed, challenges completed, RAKs, catching instructor goofs :eek:, punctuality, WOW-factor, etc...the list is lengthy and likely to grow based on, well...just about anything! We love handing out DigiChick Dollars!)

Bring your dollars to the DigiChick Store and grab some great stuff! DigiKits from a variety of designers (hint: you may just see some of your fav DSP designer kits there!), supplies, and ... welll ... lots of fun stuff! Everything you "buy" can ONLY be purchased with DigiChick dollars. Sorry...your US currency is no good at this store!
10:00 am BRUNCH
11:00 am Check-out
For details about the retreat center (this is one mighty fine nest!), the cost of camp (once you're here the only currency that counts is DigiChick Dollars! It's an all-inclusive camp), and many more details follow the link in my signature below.

We currently have 7 openings left (I KNOW...this camp fills quickly, so don't dally! Once the word gets around it doesn't take long.) We keep the camper:teacher ratio low so the retreat experience is happy for everyone.
:hug:

See you there?
:wave: