Here are Liz and Dana enjoying this week's make and take!


Sorry it's been so long since my last post, but we've been so busy unpacking new boxes and inputting inventory. The Bazzill is restocked, and the adhesive area is bursting at the seams!!






















We've got Art Institute Glitters new Elements line. You can add a fragrant and natural touch to your cards (imagine a Get Well card that smells of lavender!)

There's a great selection of Braggables purses - use the windows to showcase what's important to you! Creative Options totes are a colorful way to get organized - or you can try the new Manhattan collection from Crop in Style to take your projects on the road in elegant style.

American Crafts' new Thickers are dimensional letter stickers with pizazz - there's velvet, foam, vinyl and felt - yumm!!

The Clip It Up is back in stock and we have Making Memories' hard to find carousel organizer. Heidi Swapp has new masks like a global map - it would make a great addition to any page about a child finding their way.

We have tons of yummy media from golden. Experiment with color and texture on your paper projects. We have tons of new Brilliance inks in a rainbow of gorgeous colors, in the regular size and in dewdrops. Sets of Queues are an economical way to collect a palette of color.

Memory Glass and Frames are back! Ranger is finally satisfied with the quality from their manufacturer and these popular items are once again available.

We've got a great selection of Stickles and any kind of Glue Dot you could want, including removable and the new Dot N Go dispensers!

Love, Elsie's new Cody and Daisy lines are here with embossed papers, rubber charms and frames, and adhesive backed fabric papers.

Teresa Collins' new lines Journal-It and Boardwalk have us foaming at the mouth to OWN. IT. ALL. ... NOW.

We have some fun carnival themed papers for summer fun, and some of the most beautiful papers we've ever seen from 7 Gypsies, Scrapperdashery, Pink Paislee, and Rouge de Garance. Each so different and each so luscious!

Whew! That was a lot to catch up on. Stop by and see it all in person. Don't forget that we're giving 40% off coupons for our anniversary celebration all month long.

Tag Sale Mania!

This past weekend's tag sale was amazing! So many cool things - so many great bargains! Please remember to pick up your items by this Friday if you want them back.

Psst - check out the surprise on our web page!

Scrap Happy

We have a bunch of ladies here scrapping their hearts out. Join us if you can! We'll be here until midnight if you get the urge to shop.

Rusty Pickle Window Pane Class

The weather has finally been warm enough for us to prep the frames for the Rusty Pickle Window Frame Class. Before Lance left us, he told us that he was going to be raising the price of this class to $150 because his cost for the windows was going up. But since we got these kits before the price hike, we’re able to offer it for the original $100. You leave with lots of extra product too! We still have a couple of spots, but when these kits are gone – they won’t be back! If you can’t make the class, we have detailed instructions available with the kits.

Altered Window Pane Class
with Rusty Pickle (taught by Sally Lynn MacDonald)
Date: Saturday, April 19th
Time: 5:00 pm-8:30pm (class is 3 1/2 hours, and we'll be cropping afterwards so bring your supplies!)
Fee: $100.00

XM Musings

We're listening to Top Tracks (XM 46) today. And right now The Stones are playing.

Mick Jaggger's pretty smart - you can't always get what you want, but if you try some time, you just might get what you need.

May we all get what we need.

Ellen

Amazing Weekend

Soon after my younger son was born, I stumbled into the new world of internet email discussion groups, and one group in particular that I still belong to today. Formed as a means for a group of expectant moms with the same anticipated birth month to connect and share their experiences, it has evolved into so much more. These women are more than friends, they are family. And no matter what strange things happen to you, there is always at least one other member with the same experience.

This past weekend, a group of us met up in Philadelphia. The support, the love, the acceptance, the warmth, the laughs that we exchanged have filled me with peace and optimism. With these strong ladies on my side, I feel I can accomplish anything.

Edie's Crop!

Edie Francoeur participated in our email survey and won a free crop. Today she and her friends are enjoying our Creative Studio. They are really taking advantage of the space, bringing home-made goodies to complement the snacks from Momento, and even setting up a tag sale table!

CHA Day 3: Pictures of Ellen and......

Hi.
Sally Lynn here. And you probably guessed it. These are pictures Ellen and EVERYBODY. I've been taking her photo with every notable designer and company owner we meet. Too fun! So sit back and let's play - who's Ellen with now??

Ellen and Lance Anderson of Rusty Pickle, who's coming to the store on 2/21:


Ellen and Carol Wingert, who is coming for our National Scrapbook weekend in May:


Ellen and Elsie Flanigan:


Ellen and Ali Edwards of 'Life Artist':


Ellen with Elizabeth Kartchner (CK's Scrapbooker of the Year) and Jessica Sprague, the fabulous digital scrapbooking instructor/columnist for CK:


Ellen with Marah Johnson of Creative Imaginations:


Ellen with Teresa Collins:


Ellen with...Renee Pearson, the digital scrapbooking 'brush queen':


We had such a fun time going around the floor. And it was a marvelous bonus to, in many cases meet the artists behind the brand. We had great conversations with everybody. With some fun things developing from those as well *hint!* and Elsie was sweet and gave us a soda from her little kitchen refrigerator. Even for the girl behind the camera...

Some sneak peeks at what is coming to the store will be next.

Stay warm!

CHA Day 1:Glitter, Bling and exciting things!

Hello! We're here in Anaheim, California at the Craft and Hobby Association's (CHA) winter trade show!

We spent the morning taking classes so that we can make the most of the wonderful things we have at momento and learning new techniques to teach as well.

I attended a class with Art Glitter, using their regular and glass glitter, fantasy film and foil to make samples for the store. I am 'absolutely sparkling' (aka covered with the glitter) with excitement to show these samples to you. Here is a picture for a preview. They are so much more in person. And the elemental embellishments smell like tea, jasmine, lavender - can you imagine? It's like aromatherapy sent along with your greeting card... Sorry the blog is not 'scratch and sniff' - enabled. LOL!

Sally Lynn took a class with Ranger, making jewelry that is going to make your spirits soar. With no knowledge of jewelry-making at all, you can make personalized bracelets, pendants, mem-wearables (with photographs) so-to-speak, and more! Expect an immediate make and take featuring these cool techniques when we return home. These techniques are HOT! And we have everything you need to make it in store NOW.

Otherwise we have attended a couple of seminars on business topics, digital photography and scrapbooking and a demonstration by Copic Marker. Our order from them will be arriving in just about 10 days. And now that Sally Lynn is a Certified Copic Designer - the demonstrations at the store will be starting soon too! Keep an eye on the calendar for her Friday demonstration schedule.

We are attending an evening soiree with SEI tonight. We haven't carried them in the store before, but it will be interesting to see what they have. And of course we'll be gathering lots of goodies for samples, make n takes and of course GIVEAWAYS as we go.

Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for more blogging from the show!

Better Than Roses

Someone left an umbrella in my car today. Thanks, Sweetie!

Digital Layouts

I recently tried some digital scrapbooking. The first layout is a 2 page spread. The photo is of my oldest son's room after he moved out. When I took the photo, my 12yo looked at the display and said "it looks scary." I thought it was cool that he got the emotion behind the photo.

On the left I included the words to Billy Ray Cyrus' song, Ready, Set, Don't Go. I get a little teary every time I hear it. The journaling says:

Just after Alex moved out, Billy Ray Cyrus released this song as a duet with his daughter, Miley. It sums up so perfectly how I felt. So proud that he's taking charge of his life, but missing him so. I know my job was to make him ready for the world, but he's still my baby.

The second is my attempt at a "warhol" layout using my favorite photo of my 11 year old. The last is my first attempt at sketching over a photo - after you're done with the sketch, you hide the layer with the photo. Now it looks like I can actually draw!