What Can You Fit in A 13x13x13 Box? or Scrapping on the Road

[What Could Be 'Smore Fun? 08]

My day job had me on the road right after New Year's for a 4-day trip to Washington, DC. While to some it may seem like an awesome all-expense paid excursion to our nation's capitol, I was less enthused. I have been on enough of these little junkets to know that in addition to the over-enthusiastic main hall sessions with 1200 people in attendance, and the endless break-out sessions focusing on each and every item in the company, the long lines of colleagues and acquaintances waiting to get meals each day, there would also be "scheduled social events" every evening. While most folks are pumped about themed gatherings with adult beverages in ample supply, I am a natural introvert and can only take the crowds, smiles, air-kisses and uncomfortable, yet stylish shoes for so many hours in a day. I knew there had to be some way I could extricate myself early in the evening and leave the happy revelers barely noticing I was ever there. If only there were some way that I could retire to the serene setting of my hotel room and scrapbook. Oh, yeah, that's a laugh. How in the world could I expect to decently scrapbook so far from home? So far from my glitter? So far from my doo-dads? So far from my buttons and ribbon?

[Sparklers 08]

Then I got the memo. It was innocent in its intent: I was to notify the marketing department if I had any boxes to ship to the meeting.

Boxes? Hmmm.

[Enough Fun for Everyone 08]

I filled a 13x13x13 box with prepped pages (pictures and papers matched up), my most basic tools and adhesives, some letter stickers, a selection of doo-dads in metal and plastic, and zip-lock baggie of ribbon cuttings. I even found room for my SideKick. The box was a little heavy, but no one gave it a second look as I took it to the marketing department, and it became one of the hundreds.

Now I was looking forward to the meetings. Everyday I attended the living daylights out of both big events and breakout sessions. I didn't miss a single one. I took notes. I asked questions. I knew when the final session was over and everyone else was heading up to their rooms to prepare for the evening's festivities, I had pictures and paper calling to me. No interruptions, no dishes, no bedtime.

I had a great time and did made some nice pages, making whatever I had in the 13x13x13 box work for those pages. It was a challenge for my innovative thinking, but besides some journaling, I was pleased to see that I could make due with whatever was in my stash, no matter how small the stash was on the road. Maybe the best part was working with these fun summer pictures and memories in cold January new year.


[Family 08-sketch from Stuck?!]