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Scrappy Saturday will be no more.

One week ago today the girls and I went to check out a dog rescue place. The first, in fact, we’ve ever found locally that will actually talk to you and help match you to a dog that will be a good fit. No “just pick a dog and apply” – they want to meet you, talk to you, evaluate. Of course the girls wanted to go most of all to meet the lady who runs the place, see about obedience training for Scrappy (something else they do…)

I’ll be talking about the group more at a later date. Today what I want to say is that well, despite going in NOT expecting to find any dog.. all four of us girls fell in love with Ranger (yes, most especially Scrappy).

Three days later and Jason met and liked him a lot too, and now he’s home. Well actually no – he’s at the kennel because I’m on a plane to Ohio to film Scrapbook Soup! But he’s been here getting to know us for a few days now and I think he *slightly* likes it here.

This guy is such a love – but it wasn’t love at first sight. It was “oh good, I have no interest in this dog we can walk him for a bit…” turned “this is my dog I want him home right now!”

He is an Australian Cattle Dog cross, and has instantly taken to being my studio big dog, as you can see. Most of the time he’s on the floor not in his comfy bed. Or fitting into Scrappy’s tiny bed under the computer desk. But it’s a good life and he is already getting comfortable. The timing couldn’t have been worse – but hey. When a dog finds me, especially one as sweet and made for our family as Ranger, well, you listen. I’m glad the woman who has been caring for him can watch him while I go film the show – and I’m excited to get back home and to take some better photos of our new buddy.

So from now on, in this house it is “the adventures of Scrappy and Ranger…” and what adventures they’ll be. Excited to welcome this dude into our home and hearts. So beyond emotional and happy to have a big dog back under my roof after 7 long years without…

Today I want to share with you the most emotional scrapbook supply I own, and how I’ve finally used some of it.

You see back in 2008 I got this “Love, Elsie” ribbon designed by this cute little artist (aka Elsie of A Beautiful Mess) for my dog Jake. He was very suddenly and unexpectedly put down before I opened it, and months later in a studio clean up I came across the ribbon. I sobbed. I wanted to throw it away because I didn’t think my heart would ever be able to have another dog… but then I wanted to keep it because it represented a hope. Hope that some day, maybe a new dog could come into my life and I would use this ribbon to celebrate them and remember my doggie angel friends too.

Every time I saw that package of ribbon I thought about dogs, about wanting to try, about loss, about being scared a new dog wouldn’t work. I couldn’t ever bring myself to get rid of it, it became a symbol of hope for a new dog more than anything else. I would see it and think “some day… some day a dog will be here and I will know it’s the right time to use this…”

Then last summer the now legendary “Scrappy the dog” came into my life. If you want to read about the first few weeks (rough, let me be honest!) of Scrappy’s life with us you can do so here. I thought about the ribbon but my heart wasn’t ready.

Some time around February I finally decided I would let Scrappy be the one who got to use the ribbons. (There is a  lot – I didn’t use it all…) but I didn’t get around to using it until this week.

It was emotional breaking open the ribbon, thinking about how long I’ve had it, how long Jake has been gone. It was good though, and I wanted to share the bit of back story because this old stash item held some serious emotion. More than anything else in this whole room combined I think.

For today I’m reminded that crafting can be therapeutic, and scrapbooking more so than most anything else I do. I’m glad my heart could be open to Scrappy, and that I put all that time (and still do!) into training her and raising her. I’m happy to honor her by using “Jake’s ribbons” as they’ve been known all the 7 years they’ve been here gathering dust, and I’m even happier to have a dog roaming the house once again.

Timing wise it was crazy that I used this ribbon at long last when I did – we’ll talk more about why tomorrow…

It depends on who you talk to – it *is* international scrapbook day but as far as I know it started as a USA thing, so a lot of people still call it National Scrapbook Day or NSD… either way – happy crafting day!

I kicked off “May Day” with a trip to the scrapbook store in Dixon, CA and look! Fossilized Amber! It’s like Tim Holtz and Ranger made sure I got to find this lovely color and have the precious all to myself for “my” day. (PS: Did you see the Citron distress released on May day as well? NICE!)

So then since I was going to be working up a storm on Camp Scrap stuff I thought I would break my 15+ year “No frappuccinos” streak and make an exception for a tall S’mores one.

Oh my.

Let’s just say it was OUTSTANDING! The girls each had me treat them to a cookie version (YUM, I’m told!) and we had quite the happy crafting and fun filled day.

Now I’m on to creating up a storm for National Scrapbook Day – and here’s a few random notes:

Head over to CraftWithMay.com and you can register for Camp Scrap 2015!

Follow me on Instagram @craftwithmay for peeks inside my studio/craft stuff

I leave for Ohio in 7 days to film a new season of Scrapbook Soup. I have 18 projects to make (for various things) not to mention paperwork, computer stuff, family things, and more. WISH ME LUCK!

For a long time, I didn’t like “my” month. It drove me nuts all the jokes and annoying makes me want to punch people comments… but then I had this cool boyfriend who suggested I own the whole month. Make it a celebration, make it mine. The man and the month are both still here – and heck yeah. Let’s do this!

Kicking it off, I have 3 exciting things to share with you- including 2 new classes.

#1: FREE 2015 CLASS IS HERE!

Long story short: original intent was to do a free class for former BPC students. And a separate free class just for my blog readers. Then some changes and delays out of my control… I got to brainstorming. What if I made 1 more epic class instead of 2 small ones? What if I made this a class of inspiration and fun, have it run all through the rest of the year, and just be a big crafty party? Well- a once a month or so “here’s a tutorial and video lesson, no pressure, at home in your pajamas” kind of party. So LETS DO THIS! Want a free class? YOU’VE GOT IT!! Here’s the link: Sign up QUICK… I’ll be shutting this down after my birthday…

#2:Surprise happy mail to randomly selected students!

Every purchase of a class at www.craftwithmay.com this month will get you automatically entered to win some happy mail from me to you. Some stickers, tags, buttons and do-dads, tags… just a little glassine envelope of goodies put together and lovingly packaged up for a new winner every single day. Note not every purchase will win one – but I’ll be sending out a minimum of 30 of these goody bags all month long! Only paid class purchases will be entered for these drawings, must be class purchase placed May 1-31, 2015 to be eligible.

#3: Camp Scrap 2015 is coming

Guest instructors. Four different focus areas. 5 challenge/subject areas. 100% all new, all fun awesome and hopefully you think amazing class!! Pre-registration is opening May 2, 2015 so visit www.craftwithmay.com to check out all the info!

How’s that for some fun ways to kick off my month? If that’s not enough the new Avengers movie + a new color of Distress Ink come out today… it’s gonna be a good month alright…