Great Card Tutorial Blog

Hi all :)
Just a real quick post with a link.
I'm always telling people about this blog and thought I'd also mention it here.
Kristina Werner's blog is a fantastic resource for cardmakers and beginner digital scrapbookers. She creates detailed start-to-finish YouTube videos and posts them on Mondays and Fridays. But for those of you thinking about starting your Christmas cards, this just may be your favorite thing ever ... her Holiday Card Series. 25 videos of 25 cards over 5 weeks. This year's series will be starting on Monday, but check out this link to see what she did last year. Pretty quick little cards + new techniques = Christmas cards done in a flash.
Enjoy :)

More November Sneaks ...

I really do have the best design team gals. Mandy sent me these wicked sneaks of her November projects. I think she's had the kit for all of about 37 seconds. She's a rock star ;) And I am actually midway through a layout of my own! Shocking ... I know. Finally a few minutes to play with paper. Pure bliss :)

November Sneaks!

Hi Guys :) Not much blog posting going on around these here parts. I'm not sure where the day goes ... but it goes.
The Grand Opening this past weekend was fantastic. Lots of people taking advantage of the sales, but a lot just wanting to see the renovations to the building.
As a result, my stock has thinned out enough to warrent a few big orders to fill up the empty holes. Look for new product this weekend and early next week.
I'm trying to pack up the November kit today and wishing I had a few hours to sit down and play with it. Thankfully, I'm fortunate that I have fabulously talented design team members who will showcase the kit. Julia received her kit on Friday and already has sent me these beautiful sneaks ...
The November kits will be revealed on the 1st and available in the store on the 2nd.
Hope everyone has a wonderful Hallowe'en. I'm still working on finding one more costume by tomorrow. And I have received a request for carmel popcorn for the class. Also for tomorrow. Fun, fun.

Up The Street Grand Opening

Hey Everyone :)
Just in case you missed the post on Facebook and I haven't tackled you in person, we'll be having our Grand Opening this weekend ... Friday from 10am until 8pm and Saturday from 10am until 4pm. Nothing too strenuous (my brain can't come up with anything original) ... just some store specials and draw prizes. And yummies from Hamilton's Bakery.
Hope to see you there!

So much going on ....

The days seem to be going by way too fast. I've spent this week getting things tidied up and organized in the store, and in the space of a day, have managed to make a big mess again. Typical. Lots of new products in the store. I'm still pricing things and getting them out, but I hope to have most of them on the shelves by the end of day tomorrow.
Some of the things you will find if you visit the store over the next few days ...
- very cool Metal Art to make your home's entrance and backyard beautiful
- felt play food, flax seed Ouchie Bags, adorable bibs and girl's aprons crafted by Miss Bossy Pants
- more little goodies from Born In A Barn
- oodles of new Thicker styles
- new Sassafras lines (Mix & Mend, Count Me In, Indie Girl)
- Glimmer Glam and Glimmer Glaze from Tattered Angels (cannot wait to play with this stuff)
- cardstock, cardstock, cardstock
And more to come next week :)

October Projects from Lesley

How gorgeous are these?
Lesley never fails to amaze me with what she does with these kits.I would love to go on and on about each and every thing about these layouts that make me happy ... but there are just so many and I'm just too tired right now. I would definately recommend a trip to Lesley's blog to learn all of her little tricks :)

A Quick Tour

I've been open for a week now and things are really starting to come together. Shanon at Born in a Barn delivered my counter on Tuesday and I am over the moon about it. The top of it is glass so that I can display the monthly kits.
I haven't hung anything on the walls yet, but have managed to get most of the antiques and scrapbook stock set out.

I've had so many locals through to look at the finished product as they've been watching the renovation since spring. Kathleen has done a phenomenal job restoring the building so that it is now a beautiful gem sitting on this busy corner in Strathroy.

Kathleen has also been wonderful in helping me connect with antique buyers who find such unique pieces. They take old surveyors tripods, completely refinish them and install lampworks in them to create these fantastic, one-of-a-kind lamps.

I'm still moving items around and trying to find the perfect spot for everything, while still allowing enough space for strollers to make their way through.

I love these pieces from Born in a Barn. Definately something you won't find too many places.

I spent yesterday cleaning up the area we'll be using for crops. It's still not organized quite the way it should, but it's at least usable.

I'm hoping to get a layout or two done on Tuesday and the kits have finally found their way to the design team. So look for some October kit inspiration next week!

October Kits

I feel so behind this month. My poor design team members haven't even gotten their kits yet. And more importantly ... I haven't had time to play with these kits either. Sad face.
This past week, I've been setting up the new store front at 2 Front Street West, Strathroy. I've been open for the past few days now and am thrilled with the amount of people that have come through the doors already. It's been wonderful to reconnect with old friends that I met years ago when there was another scrapbook store in Strathroy.
While I still have quite a bit of product to get out on display, I'm happy with the way the store is shaping up. Pictures to come soon :)

But finally ... the October kits ...
Myself, I don't do too many Hallowe'en layouts, so I rarely buy much in the way of Hallowe'en themed products. I decided to go with a kit that had papers that could be used for non-Hallowe'en layouts as well. "A Hint of Hallowe'en" contains beautiful Hallowe'en papers from My Mind's Eye, rich SEI Moonrise papers and products from Teresa Collins Giving Thanks ...
A few Little Yellow Bicycle papers and a unique Hallowe'en newpaper themed paper from Graphic 45 ...

Die cut frames, Maya Road doilies, canvas tags, brads, hinge clips, epoxy chipboard buttons, nostalgic bosher buttons ...

Alphabets from Making Memories and Kaisercraft ...

Prima flowers, Teresa Collins bookplates ...

And the add-on this month, "Old School", is a fun little school-themed kit that features Bo Bunny's Learning Curve line as well as papers and embellishments from Basic Grey Wander and a bit of Crate Paper School Spirit ...

Visit the online store to order or stop by the new store to pick one up :)

September Winner

Hey everyone :)
This last little bit has been so busy that I just now realized that I hadn't announced September's winner.
Thanks to everyone that participated this month, and the winner of the $30 store credit is Angie Gutshall! Congratulations Angie! Let me know what you'd like for your prize :)