Tuesday, March 25, 2008

4 new lines by GCD Studios


LOVE this new collection by GCD Studios! GCD is a brand new company that debuted at CHA. We have four of their new lines on shelves now, including the one shown above called Whoop de Doo. For those who love Daisy Bucket, this paper is very similar. It's got a linen feel to it. Let us know what you think :)

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Sassafras Lass



This paper is ADORABLE...whales, seahorses, waves and pirate skulls! Plus, there's a super-cute robot line. It's all in-stock!

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Ranger, Heidi Grace, Cloud 9




They're all here!


Cloud 9 - (We're still working on getting this product on shelves, but should be done in the next day or two. So much product, so little time!!) Their first collection released this year is Christy & Friends and is very girly! Lots of flowers :) Also in boxes but not yet on shelves are Rain Dot titles. Remember the Rain Dots - dots, splats, letters? Well, they've come out with titles. I'm not sure the best way to describe them so you'll just have to come check them out! Lots and lots of titles! You can double click on the basketball and soccer photo to get a better view.

Heidi Grace - 3 new, beautiful lines! A Little Bird's Take, Daydream Believer, and Only Time are all on shelves now.

Ranger - Finally, our Stickles rack is full again! Plus, crackle paint in all the colors, the blending tool, Glossy Accents (you can make your own epoxy embellishments!), the new Inkessentials White Opaque Pen and more Distress Ink - all in stock.

Karen Foster - all the mini License plates have been restocked and there are even some new ones! If you are looking for state plates, get them now! With tourist season rapidly approaching, these are items that sell out very quickly. Plus, new paper collections from Karen Foster are on shelves.

When you come in, be sure to check out the 25 cents rack of paper. We're adding to it every day!

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

So much NEW stuff!!!

Here is a list of new products on shelves now...

Bo-Bunny: all new lines, more double dot paper in new and existing colors
Kaiser Scrapbooking: fabulous papers, new self-adhesive rhinestones (bling!) and pearls
Daisy Bucket: four new lines printed on beautiful, quality paper
Memories in Uniform: Life Jackets (albums that have removable fabric covers so that you can sew patches or a title on them...perfect for all military, boy scouts and girl scouts!), military rub-ons and die cuts
Reminisce: all new lines (selling fast!)
Collected Memories: BEAUTIFUL albums - there's no better way to show off all your hard work!
Advantus: Grungeboard by Tim Holtz
Stampendous: All new acrylic stamps, Fun Flock (including new colors!), and ultrafine glitter
Technique Tuesday: FUNdametal Tiles and acrylic stamps
Hambly Studios: Overlays galore!
EK Success: Disney 8x8 albums, new stickers
Sandylion: Character paper (Spongebob, Disney, Cars, Buzz Lightyear, etc.), new cruise line
Paper House: Wide variety of travel paper and stickers PLUS over 100 die cuts for 39 cents!
Die Cuts with a View: Travel collection
Moxxie: New lines including Do It Yourself, Under the Big Top (circus), Maiden Voyage (cruise) and Zoo Fun
We R Memory Keepers: All new Big Bite, eyelets
K I Memories: Love Elise lines including Clody and Claire, all new Lace Cardstock
Scor-Pal: Scor-Pal tool, Scor-Pal carrying case, adhesive tape
K and Co.: Berry Sweet and Rough and Tumble collections, Amy Butler bags
Tinkering Ink: Paper, stickers, rub-ons and peek-a-boo albums
Bazzill: Just the Edge borders, paper flowers, ribbon, birthstone Bling papers, Bling brads
Product Performers: 2 collections by Theresa Collins
it takes two: Clear stickers for every year dating back to 1900!
Three Bugs in a Rug: Island, Summer and Spring (chocolate bunnies are perfect for Easter!) collections
Zutter: Pink, silver, white and brown wires for the Bind-it-All
Amanda Blu: GREAT youth papers, new Albums (for both children and adults!)
Dream Street Papers: Remember the Moments and Art Noveau collections
Flair Designs: Amazing Grace, Easter Surprise and Family Ties Collections
Scribble Scrabble: Several new collections!
Karen Foster: New license plates (including sports, Canada, Mexico), orthodontist, ancestry and lots more
Masterpiece Studios: 25th and 50th wedding anniversary paper, pearl paper, tropical paper
Little Yellow Bicycle: Complete line of Zach's Life
Scrappin' Sports: LOTS new sports paper, stickers and rub-ons
QuicKutz: 12" border dies, new sports and pirate collection, Spring and Summer Silhouette CDs, new tools (including the must have magnetic wand!!)

...and more arriving every day!

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Happy Hump Day!

Happy Hump Day to all! It's a beautiful, sunny day AND my daughter's birthday. Wow...where has the time gone?? This is exactly the reason we scrapbook - to remember all the details of the past that we swear we'll never forget, but we do. It seems like just yesterday when she was taking her first steps and now she's about to register for kindergarten. If it wasn't for the layout detailing those first wobbly steps, I would have long since forgotten the date!

So, today is Hump Day and I hope you'll be joining us for our Hump Day Happy Hour tonight from 4:30 - 6:30. Without giving away the layout, I'll tell you it's a page having to do with summer. And, there's a palm tree involved. A big palm tree! I LOVE the layout and it features the new Mary Jane alphabet and images cut from the Silhouette.

And while you're in the store, be sure to check out all the NEW and exciting products lining the shelves and walls. Everytime we clear out some space in the back room, the UPS and FedEx man bring us more! We've been so busy entering in new product that we just haven't had much time to update our website. It's on our priority list though...promise!

Happy scrappin'!

Sunday, March 9, 2008

CHA Overview - Today

Happy Sunday to all :)

Today, from 1 - 3, Janice and Jen will be at the store to discuss all their new finds at CHA! Stop by and see pictures of what's coming, as well as layout ideas for papers and products that we already have in stock.

See you then!

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

National Scrapbooking Day

Mark your calendars for May 3rd - it's National Scrapbooking Day!

Stay tuned...more to come :)

Thursday, February 28, 2008

We love our UPS and FedEx men!


Okay ladies (and any gents who are reading)...we have received over 40 boxes of NEW product this week! On Monday, UPS delivered 21 boxes - it was so much that our man in brown pulled the UPS truck right up to our back door! I'm talking within inches...I really thought he was going to hit the building, or even worse, Susan! "Please don't hit Susan," I yelled as I leapt in front of her. "I need her programming skills to update the website!!" (okay, a bit of an inside joke, but Susan admits that she is the most computer illiterate person in the world.) Anyway, I digress...

Then, within minutes of the UPS guy leaving, the FedEx man cometh. See the picture of my daughter here? Yes, those are boxes stacked way taller than she stands! And, this picture was taken before the FedEx man came.

So, basically, I am writing this blog from the store as I cannot climb out of the wall of boxes that have been built around me. The chair reclines ever so slightly, so I was able to catch a few minutes of sleep last night.

I'm getting a little hungry for breakfast now though. If anyone would like to bring me some Special K with strawberries and some milk, I would love you forever.

Help!

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

3 pounds in 1 day


Really, there should be a limit as to how many thin mints one person can eat in a day. All day yesterday, Janice and I entered new product in our computer system. There were over 40 boxes delivered! Yes...ALL new stuff from CHA!!! So, all day. We entered. We snacked. We entered. We snacked. I guess I ate a LOT of girl scouts cookes b/c I was 3 pounds heavier this morning. Arg...


Today, I am going back to the store to finish entering all the AWESOME new product. This time, I will NOT eat one cookie. If you come in and see me eating a cookie, yell. Really loud. STEP AWAY FROM THE COOKIE. Seriously. :)

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

QuicKutz are in!

The new releases from QuicKutz are in! I am loving that Rockstar alphabet :) And, OH MY GOSH - that magnetic wand is to d-i-e for. You MUST use it - come by the store, we have one on the counter to demo. You will fall in love. Seriously. (And, you will no longer have chipped finger nails trying to scrape the cookie cutters off the magnetic binders!!!)

Make sure you come to our Hump Day Happy Hour tomorrow b/w 4:30 and 6:30 -we'll be using some new dies and a new alphabet to make a layout. As the saying goes..."it just don't get any better..."

Monday, February 25, 2008

Lovin' Zach's Life





I am LOVIN' the new collection by Little Yellow Bicycle! It's called Zach's Life and it's ALL boy :) For those of us who scrap boy pictures, we know how hard it is to come across some good ole boy stuff. Plus, there's tons of embellishments with this line. Fabric borders and tags, rub-ons, brads, stickers, chipboard books and lots more. Trust me...you'll love it too :)


Thursday, February 21, 2008

Out with the old, in with the new!

As I was roaming through the store yesterday looking for cloud paper, I just kept thinking...where are we going to put all the new stuff that we ordered at CHA?? Then I began to panic...slightly. We simply can't accommodate all the new stuff!

So, out with the old!

We put a bunch of paper on clearance yesterday and will continue to do so in order to free up some paper racks. Check the clearance racks daily because you never know what will be added next :)

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Win a Free Revolution!

Well, we're back and trying to adjust to the time zone difference! Once we got used to being on California time, it's back to Virginia. Last night, I just laid in bed with my eyes wide open :)

We are working on a presentation for you that will highlight some of our orders from CHA. We will put it on the calendar for sometime in the very beginning of March, so watch the calendar when it comes out. We are VERY excited to share all this new product with you!!

On the last day of CHA, we won a FREE Revolution from QuicKutz! This is for all of you who don't yet have a Revolution...WE ARE GIVING IT AWAY! That's right...you could win a FREE REVOLUTION...how cool is that?!? All you need to do is stop by the store and fill out an entry card. There is no purchase necessary. The lucky winner will be announced on March 1st! Good luck to all who enter :)

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Article in the Daily Break

Did you see the article about us in the Daily Break section of The Virginian-Pilot??!! Cherise Williams came in a few Fridays ago and had a great time working on her first layout. You'll laugh when you read that she actually brought in magazines to cut out pictures to use on her page :) (Friends don't let friends use magazine cut-outs!)

Thanks to Carmella and all the friendly scrappers that were in the crop room that night - you all helped make her experience a great one!

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Ready to come home






Well, it's 8:30 California time and I can barely keep my eyes open. It's been one looong week! I miss my family, my bed and my car :) We arrive in Virginia around 11 p.m. tomorrow, and I can't wait!

Even though it's been a long week, it's been a very successful (and fun!) week. We have really branched out and tried some new companies that we think you will love. If you look at the list to the right, you will probably see some companies on there that you've never heard of before. Plus, we're ready to try some techniques that are a little outside of our comfort zone. Tim Holtz showed us how to use crackle paint, grungeboard, and distress ink in ways we never knew. We'll show you what we've learned, in addition to showing you new uses for paint daubers, glitter and flocking. It's good to step outside of the box sometimes and learn new, exciting techniques. Some of them are so easy that you sort of have an 'a-ha' moment. Like, hey...I should have thought of that!

Some highlights today...lots of bling at Prima! See the flourishes on the 'you're beautiful' layout above? All bling..one giant piece of flourish bling. Very, very cool. There were LOTS of new items at Prima - it was hard to have any self control!

The 'always' layout above displays Doodlebug's new crushed velvet paper. It comes in all different colors and is awesome. I can't wait to use some of the new 12" QuicKutz border dies on this paper!!

Well, I'd love to write more but I seem to keep zoning out b/c I'm exhausted :)

Oh...one more thing...Happy Valentine's Day tomorrow! The code word for the day is Cupid. Buy any of the Valentine collections (paper and/or embellishments) and take 25% off each item.

We'll see you soon and can't wait to share our experiences!

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

We met Heidi Swapp!






So, we go to the Heidi Swapp booth today and guess who greets us?!? Yep, Heidi herself! She was so cute in her black and white houndstooth skirt :) This is the first time ever that she has introduced paper in her collections. And, what beautiful paper it is!

In addition to the bigger vendors like Making Memories, KI Memories and Sandylion, we also found lots of smaller vendors with very interesting design lines like Glitz Design and Rouge de Garance Inspiration.

And, if you don't like any of the paper we picked (which I will find extremely hard to believe!), you can create your own colors with the new Rusty Pickle line. It comes in black and white and you actually color it in yourself. I'm thinking of all the neat techniques you could use with it...markers, flock, glitter, inks, bling. Very cool. Very hip. Very chic.

I really do want to write more because I have sooo much to share, but I am just dog tired. We ran around today like crazy people! The show ends tomorrow at 2, which means we have to be even faster and more efficient. I am going to need a serious foot massage when this is all said and done!

Let's see...the secret code for Wednesday is EK is OK! We met with EK today and picked out a million and one new Jolee stickers that will be making their debut over the next 3 months. Lots of cute, new stuff :) So, go to the store on Wednesday, say "EK is OK" and get 30% off any Jolee sticker! You can use this discount on as many EK Jolee stickers as you wish! (Here's the small print...no other discounts may apply.)

Oh...one more thing. We're preselling the QuicKutz 12" platform now! If you prepay, you will get one 12" border die for absolutely free! This will only be while supplies last, so hurry...go buy one! (Plus, QuicKutz club members get 20% off!)

Goodnight my friends :)






We met Tim Holtz today!





Wow! What a BIG day! We hit a record number of vendors today scooping up all the latest and greatest in the scrapbooking world. I'm far too tired to write much about our day, but I'll give you some highlights :)


First, let me tell you about some trends that we are seeing in the industry. Lots of glitter. (Glitter paper, glitter stickers, glitter rub-ons.) Buttons. Turquoise and brown. (I know that color combo was big a few years ago, but it seems to have resurfaced!) Acrylic stamps. Felt. Chipboard books. Acrylic books. Ok...enough about trends.


More importantly, quess who met Tim Holtz today!?!? Hooray us! I've posted a picture above for those who have a crush on him - yes, Dawn, this one's for you! Very nice and very straight teeth. Not sure why I noticed that, but I digress...


Lots of new paper (including guitar patterns for Sharon and Debbie!)...silver, white, brown, blue, pink, and red binder wires for the Zutter...acrylic stamps...new flock colors...albums...new Bazzill In Stitch'z, Bling and paper flowers...the Big Bite...overlays...chipboard...brads...and more and more and more! Today was a big buying day and my mind is swirling with all the new items. My brain is starting to hurt :)


Thank goodness we were able to get out tonight and have a little fun. We were invited by QuicKutz to a dinner in Downtown Disney! Each sales rep invited their top two accounts. Thanks to our loyal customers, Beach Scrapbooks is a top account!! And, have we got stories to tell!! The guys from QuicKutz are incredibly nice and offered up some insight as to what's coming over the next few months. Let's just say it's VERY EXCITING! Two words of advice...QuicKutz Club and 12" plate for the Revolution. Okay, that was more than two words, but you catch my drift. The picture above is of Janice, Eric Adams (president of QuicKutz), me and Kris (our incredible and strikingly handsome sales rep)!


On to the secret code word of the day. Let's see...since we just came back from a great dinner, the code word is YUMMY. Tell whoever is working on Tuesday YUMMY and receive 30% off any COOKBOOKIN' products. This would include most of the food themed papers, stickers album kits and recipe cards. You know the fine print...this cannot be used with any other discounts and is for Tuesday only. Blah, blah, blah...
From the opposite side of the states...Good Night!







Sunday, February 10, 2008

First day of CHA







Whew! What a day! Where do I begin? Let's start at 4:45 this morning. I woke up with a killer sinus pain shooting across my face...arg...I think I'm getting a sinus infection. But, you don't want to hear about that! On to the good stuff.

Let me tell you about Basic Grey. You have to get to their booth early in order to get a number. This number guarantees your shipping order. You can go back to the booth anytime during the show to place your order, but the lower the number, the better your shipping order. We'll keep ours a secret for now, but let's just say we got a good number :) A store owner from Oregon and I ran the 600 yard dash in about 35 seconds. (This means we'll be one of the first to receive ALL their new lines!! It also means I nearly died.) They had some very cool papers, rub-ons, buttons, stickers, stamps, fibers and brads. And, not to worry, we stocked up on the new Rub-On Roller Tool. These are amazing...

Next, it was off to QuicKutz to check out their new release. The 12" plate for the Revolution is INCREDIBLE! The borders that it makes are really great - this will be a must have! We are going to start taking orders for it in the next few days, so watch our website. The plates are expected to arrive at the end of March/beginning of April. I have a feeling these are going to sell like hotcakes, so get your order in soon before they get backordered! Oh, and the March release - PIRATES! REVOLUTION PIRATES! Love them!!!

While at QuicKutz, we met the owners of the exclusive Lighthouse and Elephant. Also, we met up with the buyers from Scrapdoodles in Fredericksburg. It was like Cheers...where everybody knows your name! Our mermaid was receiving all kinds of praise today - they all love it :)

Creative Imaginations has an incredible lineup for the spring. Birthday, Disney, pregnancy, travel, pirate, girl, boy, beach, wedding, Coast Guard, Americana, etc...etc...etc...

We spent all afternoon buying all kinds of amazing new papers, embellishments, chipboard books and assorted other fun things :)

Now it is time to get some dinner. We haven't eaten since breakfast - there was just no time to stop.

On to the code of the day. Since we visited QuicKutz today, let's put all Grand Revolution alphabets on sale if you mention the secret code word: ARRG! (Get it, pirates...new release?!?) I didn't see the pirate release on the QuicKutz website, but it will be soon. Mention it to whoever is working on Monday and get 25% off. Wear an eye patch or a hook and take 30% off. Bring a parrot on your shoulder and you get 40% off. Arrrren't we clever?!? Again, this only applies to Monday and cannot be used with other discounts.

G'night!



Saturday, February 9, 2008

We have arrived!











After a very loooong plane ride (actually it was 2 plane rides with a layover in Vegas), we have arrived in sunny Anaheim, California! The cool thing about this place is that the sun is shining and the weather is warm...however, when you look in the distance, you see snow covered mountains. Very beautiful and very different from flat, mountain-less Virginia Beach :)

Today was a great start to our week. We started off by having brunch with the owners of a local scrapbook store in Richmond - Memories Galore. It was great to swap stories and share ideas with one another. We spent 2 hours with them but could have easily spent another 2!

Then, it was off to the Fiskars Finest Event. This show is reserved for Fiskars top customers and provides an opportunity to preview all the new releases before CHA officially starts. Fiskars actually owns several companies, including Heidi Grace, Cloud 9 and Li'l Davis. We bought every single one of their lines! Lots of cool new papers and embellishments...babies, bugs, travel, flowers, home, friends, beach and lots more.

Is anyone reading our blog?!?! We hope so :) If you are, go to the store today and tell Susan that you read our blog. Mention the secret code: Max's Backyard. This is one of the coolest new lines by Cloud 9 - PERFECT for boys and anyone who loves bugs! Anyway, mention Max's Backyard and get 25% off any one item of your choice. This is good for Sunday only and cannot be combined with any other discount. And, keep checking our blog for other announcements from the west coast. We'll be updating it daily :)

CHA starts bright and early tomorrow, so it's time to go to bed! Remember, Max's Backyard! Sunday only...

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Basic Grey Sneak Peek

Has anyone seen the Basic Grey ad in the front of Simple Scrapbooks magazine?? Dinosaurs and palm trees...LOVE IT!!! Can't wait to see it at CHA!