Eleven More Sleeps!

I can't believe that Paper Arts A Thon 2008 is almost here! We have been waiting for this for almost a year. We have pretty much everything ready....just a few final touches.

Thanks to everyone who have made donations to our Silent Auction Table....so many great items to bid on!

Thanks to those of you who have volunteered to do Make N Takes....can't wait to see what you have in store for us!

Thank you to those who provided items for our Raffles....we appreciate your support!

An especially BIG Thank you to the Nova Scotia Community College for generously opening your doors to us...it wouldn't be possible without you.

A Thank You to the Middleton Lions Club who are loaning us tables and ....giving a cheque for $150. to help out our fund raising efforts for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. People helping people.

Thank you to ALL of you attending for helping out with the food. This has made our job a lot easier....and what a treat to taste all the great homemade goodies!

And THANKS to everyone of you who are taking time from your busy lives to be with us! We REALLY couldn't do this without YOU!

Be sure to check out the post below with the list of individuals and businesses who have generously donated items for our Silent Auction and Raffle.

The Countdown Is On!
Myleta, Jackie, Pam, Bonnie, Jaime and Holly

Silent Auction and Donations

Let me explain about the Silent Auction Table. Throughout the event a table will be set up with lots of different items. There will be bidding sheets beside each item and throughout the event you can write your name on this sheet with an amount you are willing to pay. We add a little twist to this auction by giving each item a number and at announced times, throughout the event, we will call that number and if your name is last on the sheet you will be awarded the item. Last year there was quite an assortment of items: everything from Gucci handbags , Halloween candlebras, boat trips to lots of cardmaking and scrapbooking items.

I have had several people tell me they have a few extra scrapbooking supplies (don't we all!) they would like to part with and wondered if we could use these in anyway. My answer to this is Yes. We will combine a variety of items and put them on the Silent Auction Table. If you have any items you would like to donate please email me and I will make arrangements to collect them or you can bring them on the 3rd of May...which is just around the corner.

'Special Guest'

Did anyone notice the reference to the 'Special Guest' in the list of those providing Make N Takes?

We are pleased to have a 'Celebrity' in our midst at Paper Arts A Thon this year.

Now do not get me wrong, all Paper Artists are celebrities, especially if you are attending Paper Arts A Thon. You are a celebrity in my books because you are taking precious time out of your lives to make this event a success and therefore benefit the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

This particular 'Celebrity' does not consider herself so and would argue that point, saying she is just one of us....and so she is, JUST a Paper Artist who has been published in SEVERAL MAGAZINES....Paper Crafts, Canadian Scrapbooker, Scrap & Cards Today, Creating Keepsakes and Scrapbooks Etc.

Can you guess who she is?

Paul Illsley Print

Paul Illsley has donated a framed print of this picture to Paper Arts A Thon. He took this picture on Sable Island. This print was used for a Canadian Stamp. Paul has granted us permission to post this picture.

We are selling Raffle Tickets on this print. Tickets are $1.00 each, all proceeds to Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. To purchase tickets or sell tickets for this print, please contact me.

You can find out about Paul Illsley at this site.

The CBCF-Atlantic Division

Paper Arts A Thon is (for those of you attending) about working on your hobbies, having a great time with friends, enjoying lots of laughs and participating in awesome Make N Takes, among other things. For the organizers it is about planning cool stuff...can't tell you what, we've got to keep our secrets!, hosting a memorable event and having everyone come together for a wonderful weekend.

I wanted to let you know that while we are having all this fun, WHO we are raising money for. I felt the best way to do that is to let CBCF speak for themselves.

So please take a moment and check out the CBCF-Atlantic Division website:
Candian Breast Cancer Foundation-Atlantic Division

When you go to the website make note that on the left hand there is a sidebar and if you click on Funding you will notice that on the right hand side 'Related Links' will come up with a list of Grants Awarded in 2006-2007. If you click on this it provides a break down of where Grant Money went in 06-07.

Be sure to check out the information on Breast Cancer.

We have invited Vanessa Burns-Trivett, she is the Manager of Community Development for the Atlantic Division of CBCF, to come and speak at Paper Arts A Thon. She will be talking about where fund raising dollars go. We also wanted to provide some Breast Cancer Awareness and asked Vanessa if she would bring a Breast Model that is used to help women detect lumps. We hope you will take a few moments during Paper Arts A Thon to participate in this.

Vanessa will be bringing along some fund raising product like pins, hats, etc. that are available through CBCF to purchase.

I hope the above information will be helpful in your fund raising efforts and in your prevention of Breast Cancer. We can make a difference!

Food, Food & More Food

Anyone who attended last year's Paper Arts A Thon can tell you there was no shortage of food! We want to make sure we can do this again and have asked (a question you answered on your registration form) if you will help out. With your food (money) donations plus ours and the donations we receive from local grocery stores, we will do our best to see you have plenty of good food to eat along with some treats.

We have decided to go with the old saying, “If it isn't broke, don't fix it” and stick with our menu from last year. This means:
There will be coffee, tea, juice and muffins on arrival.
For lunch we will provide all the fixings to make your own sandwich buns, plus a veggie and fruit tray with squares and cookies for dessert.
For supper we will serve salads, a variety of casseroles, dinner rolls and to top it off 'yummy desserts'.
There will be ample treats and snacks interspersed throughout the event.
Before departing at 6:00 am we will have muffins and juice, coffee and tea to send you on your way.
During the 20 hour event, there will be coffee brewing, hot water for tea, plenty of water and juice available at all times!


Below is a list with your first name and initial and a request for a specific item or $$'s that will go toward particular items. If the request is not something you are able to do and you would like to change, please Email me and I will happily make that change for you. We have tried our best to divvy up the food equally.

PLEASE CONFIRM BY EMAIL THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO BRING THIS ITEM OR EMAIL MEAND I WILL MAKE A CHANGE.

Pam D.- $10 toward sandwich meat
Heather A.-$10 toward sandwich meat
Karen T-$10 toward sandwich meat
Sandra F- $10 toward sandwich meat
Taryn O- supper dessert
Roberta C-$10 toward sandwich meat
Linda B-$10 toward sandwich meat
Donna L-$10 toward sandwich meat
Joy T-$10 toward sandwich meat
Jennifer G- a pan of squares
Nancy F-$10 toward sandwich meat
Paulette S- a 9x13 size casserole
Melissa L- 1 bag of apples and 1 pineapple
Ardith A-$10 toward buns and rolls
Pam K-supper dessert
Amy R-a pan of squares
Bea S-2 dozen cookies
Heather S- large Caesar Salad
Angie P-$10 toward sandwich meats
Jane G- a 9x13 casserole
Alex F- 1 box strawberries and 4 kiwi
Jill M-supper dessert
Sara B-2 dozen muffins
Betty M-a pan of squares
Joline M- homemade salsa
Josee M-2 dozen muffins
Gayle S-supper dessert
Ria D-chocolate cake
Debbie R- supper dessert
Kathryn R-a pan of squares
Jocelyn B- pasta salad
Elaine P- 2 dozen muffins
Mona L-2 dozen muffins
Pat C-supper dessert
Jane M- a pan of squares
Judy T- 2-3 jars of sandwich pickles (depending on jar size)
Cherrie G- 1 box strawberries and 4 kiwi
Kelly H-2 dozen muffins
Chantal M-1 box strawberries and 4 kiwi
Amanda R- a pan of squares
Heather S-a 9x13 casserole
Dianne L-2 dozen muffins
Kim L- $10 toward buns/ dinner rolls
Kaye M- a 9x13 casserole
Cathy P-$10 toward buns/dinner rolls
Leslie H- 1 pineapple and 1 box strawberries
Shelley K-$10 toward buns/rolls
Carolyn C-1-2 blocks cheddar cheese (depending on size)
Maureen G-a 9x13 casserole
Sheila )-2-3 jars sandwich pickles (depending on jar size)
Merrilee W-2 mangoes and 2 lbs (approx) grapes
Amber T- 2 mangoes and 2 lbs (approx) grapes

*** Those contributing $$$'s can bring the money the day of the event. ************************

*** Note to those providing casseroles: Your 'casserole' could be a crock pot dish, actually anyone who maybe able to do this will help out with 'oven space'.

***************Please read below, this is important!****************************

When you arrive at Paper Arts A Thon someone will be there to take your food and store it properly. If you are bringing a prepared item (casserole, dessert) please label your food in the following way:
Your name (we may need heating/storing instructions)
What the prepared item is called (ie: Chicken Broccoli Casserole)
and please label your food if any of the food items below are used in the preparation.

Below is a list of food items that some participants are allergic to. We are not asking that you do not use these items but that you label your food if you DO use them.

For example, on your label add: 'contains garlic'

These are the food items some participants are allergic to: soy, mussels, escargot, blue cheese and garlic.

Thank you for your generosity. I can tell you, from last year's experience, it is wonderful to be a part of a joint effort of so many generous and caring people.
This... to me.... spells SUCCESS!

PAAT Update

We are well underway to the 2nd Annual Paper Arts A Thon. Below is a list of sponsors and information I wanted to pass on. As donations are made I will add to the list below.

Make N Takes

Make N Takes will be provided by the following:

Jill MacDonald
Myleta Ross
Karen Thomas
Pam Lunnon
Bonnie Robar
Jackie Bigelow
Ria Dixon & Paulette Sarsfield
Surprise Guest
(As all materials are donated we ask that you make a donation to participate in these.)


To date we have received items from these businesses or individuals. These items will be used at our Silent Auction Table, for Door Prizes and Raffle Items.

Stampin' Up!
Bea Sturney
Sandra Flinn
Classic Hobbies-Pam Lunnon
Karen Thomas
Heather Atkinson
Paulette Sarsfield
Big Ideas Scrapbook Store
Middleton Home Hardware
Grampie's Country Barn
Cinnamon Creek
Scrappin' Great Deals
A W Allen & Son
Ardith Adams
Michael Turner
ZeBra For Health-Trudy Killam
Bonnie Robar
Pam Dawson
Jaime Dennison
Chapel Creek Gallery
Pharmasave-Middleton
Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine
Michelin
Melissa Frances
Sobeys
Kelly Mills
Military Family Resource Center
The Cutting Garden
Kathryn Robicheau
Kal Barteski
Family Feed Store-Middleton
Country Traditions Flower Shoppe
Valley Rose Flower Shoppe
Maureen Gillis
Mikmaq Wholesale Water & Vending
Jackie Bigelow
Save Easy
Canada Post- Thanks Dee Dee!
John Bead Company
The Sweets Forever Bake Shoppe
Greg French
Avery's Farm Market
Den Haan Enterprises Ltd.
The NB Stampin' Roadies

Raffle Tickets

We have tickets (all tickets are $1.00) for the following Raffle Items.

Framed Paul Illsley Limited Edition Print (over $200. value) donated by Paul Illsley

Hot Stone Massage ($100. value) donated by Amy Ross Massage Therapy

Stampin' Up! Goodie Basket (value $200.) includes these items- Pun Fun, Defining Alphabet and Sprinkles Stamp Sets, Stampin' Pastels, Versamark, 1 pkg, In color 8 ½ X 11 cardstock, a pair Craft & Rubber Scissors, Snail Adhesive, 1 bottle Stampin' Mist, a Stampin' Scrub & a Black Ink Pad donated by Myleta Ross

If you would like to purchase or sell these tickets, please email me.

As we approach May 3rd, I will be adding other items to this post.

If you have any questions regarding Paper Arts A Thon, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Thanks and see you on the 3rd!
Myleta Ross

Paper heARTS A Thon

Although there have been no posts to this sight in a while, there has still been lots going on....lots of planning that is.

If you attended 2007 Paper Arts A Thon, I am sure you can appreciate that statement.

Paper Arts A Thon 2007 will be a tough act to follow. I do not doubt for a minute that we (The Dream Team) will do our absolute best to rise to the challenge, after all we are going about this with out heART!

To date we have just 5 spaces left to fill, we can take 64 participants this year, thanks to the Nova Scotia Community College so generously donating their facility for us to use.

If you have not sent your registration form to me please do so, you can Email it to me.

Also if you have been collecting pledges and have received cheques (make sure they are made out to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation) you can mail them to me and I will send them on to Vanessa Burns-Trivett, she is the manager of the Community Development for CBCF. We will keep record of who has sent what.

My mailing address is:

Myleta Ross, 627 Seaman Street, RR#1 Margaretsville, NS B0S 1N0

and finally, if you have any questions regarding the event please do not hesitate to email me. I will be happy to answer any of your questions.

The count down is on and our brains are buzzing with loads of ideas. The Dream Team are anxiously awaiting the 3rd of May,2008.

See you then!

Paper Arts A Thon 2008

Hope... we, the 'Dream Team' held onto hope that the 1st Paper Arts A Thon 2007 would be a success and we would be able to plan another. Our definition of success was 'Everyone would have a great time and we would raise money towards Holly and Terry Hearn's commitment to participate in 'Joints in Motion'. (Their marathon is in January 2008). The success of Paper Arts A Thon went beyond our wildest dreams. Almost $10,000. was raised and according to the survey sheets we asked everyone to fill out, it was one of the best, if not the best, event they had ever attended.

So.... we are doing it again! Paper Arts A Thon 2008 is a go!

Here are the specifics.
We are fund raising for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. We have been in touch with the Atlantic Division and they are pleased and willing to support us in this fund raising event anyway they can. We chose to raise money for CBCF for several reasons: although we know breast cancer can affect men, it is mostly known as a woman's disease; many of us have been touched by someone in our lives who have suffered or succumbed to breast cancer; it is a disease we, as women, more than likely all fear; we want to make a difference.

The registration numbers will increase. We have had so many people tell us they wished they could come so we will have 64 spots available, up 20 from last year. In order to do this we had to move to a new facility, the Nova Scotia Community College in Middleton has graciously opened there doors to us.

The event will be held the 3rd and 4th of May 2008. As Oprah says “when we know better we do better” and now we know 24 hours is just too long for everyone (although I do remember a few scrappy scrappers working diligently on pages at 6:00 am). Registration will start at 9:00 am on the 3rd of May with the event beginning at 10:00 am and we will continue on until 6:00 am Sunday, May 4th. A 20 hour event which still qualifies as a Marathon.

Each registrant will bring materials of there choice to work on throughout the 20 hour marathon. Whatever your paper hobby is, this will be a great opportunity to work on it. We will supply you with ample space to create with your friends.

We will do our best to see that everyone arrives and leaves safely, for those of you coming from New Brunswick (it wouldn't be the same without you!) we will ensure we have a plan worked out to get you here and back home safely.

We will offer some half marathon spots the same as we did last year. These will run from 10 am until 10 pm on the 3rd of May (although those who stayed on were VERY glad they did, we plan lots of Surprises! throughout the night). We also want to reaffirm our intent that everyone needs to do this safely, so if you are too tired to continue please feel free to leave at anytime.

The Dream Team provided most of the food last year, with some much appreciated help from friends! As you can imagine, feeding 64 people (last year I am sure the participants will agree they did not go away hungry) lunch, supper and snacks and a light breakfast can be a costly venture. We had tried to find a food store to help out with this but we had little success. This year we are asking (it is on your registration form) if you would be willing to bring a food item. As the event draws near and if you have answered yes to this, we will contact you with a list of items needed and give you an opportunity to choose what item would be best for you to donate. This will certainly help out with the overhead costs and eliminate a registration fee.

Which leads me to explain, to anyone new, that there is no registration fee for this event. The way we raise money for CBCF will be through Pledge Sheets which each of you will receive when you register and as you are participating in a Marathon (Paper Arts) you will canvas family and friends to make a donation to CBCF. (your pledge sheet will give specifics about tax deductions,etc). A few participants last year instead of canvassing for pledges made items and sold them to raise money or made a sizable donation in lieu of a registration fee.

At Paper Arts A Thon a couple of other fund raising events will be happening. During the 20 hour event we will have Make N Take projects available for you to do. The materials for these projects will have been donated and we ask that you make a donation to do these projects. Please note on your registration sheet a place where you can let us know if you are interested in doing these or not. This will make it easier to know how many Make N Take projects to prepare for.
We also held a fun and very successful Silent Auction filled with great items to bid on.

So.. .what you need to do...

Mark your Calendar's for Paper Arts A Thon May 3rd & 4th 2008.

Email me for your registration form, information sheet and pledge sheet.

Send the Registration form back as quickly as possible. (Remember there are only 64 spots).

Plan to have one of the best weekends ever! We, the Dream Team, have a tough task of living up to your expectations but as we stated last year, we know the bar was set high, and we will do our best to meet it and hopefully we will exceed it!

HOPE... we all need to live with HOPE that we can make a difference and we will see a cure for Breast Cancer.

BELIEVE... Believe in all possibilities and that 'We can Change the World, One Piece of Paper At a Time”.

We look forward to seeing you at Paper Arts A Thon 2008.

The Dream Team,
Bonnie, Jackie, Holly and Myleta

Final Recap

Paper Arts A Thon, by all accounts, was a huge success. The generousity and spirit will long be remembered and will carry us through until Paper Arts A Thon 2008.

The final tally of funds raised was $9673.78. Amazing!

'Thank you' to those who attended and 'Thank You' to all of you who could not attend but showed your support in so many other ways, purchasing tickets, donating and or helping serve food, donating silent auction items.

We have a full year to prepare for the 2008 Paper Arts A Thon and as we have expressed: The bar was set high at our first Paper Arts A Thon and we know we can never exceed it but we will do our VERY best to meet it!

In the meantime we are preparing for our next fundraising venture. We, Holly, Jackie, Bonnie and I had decided prior to Paper Arts A Thon that we should continue fundraising for Joints in Motion/ Arthritis Society. The decision was made for two reasons. One, we didn't want the fun for us to end, we had such a blast preparing for Paper Arts A Thon and two, we didn't know the outcome of Paper Arts A Thon and if more $$$'s would be needed. Although we exceeded our desired goal we decided to continue with fundraising as dollars are still needed for the Arthritis Society.
So... please join us for

'Kick Off to the Christmas Spirit'

When: Saturday, November 24th, 2007
Where: Nova Scotia Community College
Middleton, Nova Scotia
Time: 8:30 am to 4:00 pm

What’s happening: A day to spend with your friends, making everything imaginable to get you in the mood and prepared for Christmas! You will go away with cards, tags, gift ideas and Christmas ornaments. Lunch will be served. Cost: $30.00

Please register by contacting:
Myleta Ross orHolly Hearn

Fundraiser For the Arthritis Society/Joints in Motion
Registration cut off: November 1st,2007

At Paper Arts A Thon we explained that we wanted every penny we fundraise at 'Kick Off to the Christmas Spirit' to go to Joints in Motion and we did not want to go to individuals and businesses to ask for donations. Instead we are asking anyone that would be interested in donating their recycling to us (either the recyclables and we will turn them in or the dollars from the recyclables) and we will use these dollars to purchase the materials needed to make the Christmas projects we have planned for you. Any money left over from the recycling collected will go to Joints in Motion.
If you are interested in donating your recyclables please contact Holly or I at the above addresses.

Again, Thank you for your support in our first fundraising event and we hope you will join us in November, a reunion of sorts and a chance to (as Jaime put it) 'Change the World, one piece of Paper at a time'.

Happy Stamper,
Myleta