Hello Everyone!

I didn’t realise it had been so long since I blogged. There has been so much happening here in our little shop. For starters we have been very busy getting everything ready for our stall at the Melbourne Quilt and Craft fair. Boy was that a lot of work!

I was very happy yesterday when the boxes where loaded onto the pallet and shrink wrapped ready for their trip over to Melbourne. When I arrive at the exhibition center it will be there ready and waiting for me (that’s the plan anyway!)

Thank you to everyone who has helped with the preparations the past couple of weeks. For weighing and bagging the brads (over 3000 bags of brads are on that pallet! lol), for helping by cutting 1125m of ribbon in to 1m lengths, for helping to pack the class kits, for writing instructions for the page kits, for making cards for the card kits and finally for stitching our aprons. You all know who you are 🙂 I could not have done it without all of you!

The shop will still be open whilst we are in Melbourne. But the trading hours for next week are 9.30 – 2.30 everyday. 

Now I have some other news…..

In August last year I was handed the keys to my very own shop. We worked hard to make it a shop I could be proud of. At the time we (my husband and I) knew it was a risk to open a shop here in Geraldton. We were doing well selling from home online, holding classes at home and we really struggled with the decision if it would be worth all the extra expenditure for rent, power and working full time….the list goes on. And now the lease is nearly finished so its decision time.

To be honest we are not 100% happy with our location. It was the best we could find at the time within our price range (real estate is really not cheap here in town!!) but we have very limited parking and the building is very old, our shop windows and doors have been broken a couple of times due to the night club being practically next door, the classroom is not really as big as we would like it and there are a few other issues with the shop too, so to re-sign here would not really be to our benefit.

We have spent the last 3 months searching for the perfect new shop. Most that where the right size where astronomical in price, others too small, also no parking etc.

Finally our hunting has paid off. We have found the absolute perfect shop. We are going from 120m2 to 280m2! So we will have plenty of room to prepare for our shows / markets in the future. The classroom is perfect – it even has a kitchenette in it. There is a little office ready for me to move all our paper work and computer in (so much better than doing everything at home) and there is not 1 but 2 toilets in the shop and 1 out the back for staff and to top it off there is parking space for at least 20 cars.

Photos will be posted after I return from Melbourne. (the shop still needs to be painted etc).

Further information regarding our move, new address, Grand Opening Day etc will be given very soon 🙂 (just waiting for the final paper work to come back from the lawyer first)

For the past 2 weeks I have also been on a little CHA spending spree.  Lots of new products due in August and September. Bo Bunny, Prima, October Afternoon, Fancy Pants, Kaiser, We R Memory Keepers, Echo Park and lots more! Lots of papers and embellishments, Lucky we are going to a bigger shop to fit them all in. Photos of these will be loaded in the next couple of days.

Hope everyone in WA enjoys the 2nd week of the school holidays.

Marijke

Good Evening!

How are you all coping with the cold? Its a bit chilly here…our house is fully tiled and has windows along 1 side which is great in the summer but pretty chilly in the winter. So I have been going to bed a lot earlier too.

Our Jack and Jill kits were very popular and sold out within 2 days, at the request of a couple of people I will be re-ordering the papers and embellishments. If you would like to order one as well please let me know asap so I order enough papers.

The kit includes everything for 2 pages (and I have been told by 2 ladies that they created a 3rd page with the left overs). If you have a look at the below post you will see a photo of the actual contents of the kit, it also includes detailed instructions and pictures.

We also have a new page kit available from Tuesday (just finishing off the instructions.) This kit features the new Velvet Ensemble released 2 weeks ago by Kaisercraft.
Included in the kit: 6 x double sided sheets of paper, 1 piece of cardstock, 1 speciality paper, 1 ink pad, 1 pack of 6m ribbon, 1 pack of pearl brads, mulberry flowers, cardstock flourishes, 1 pack of Alpha mini, 1 pack of alphabet stickers, 1 pack of clear rhinestones, templates and instructions. Cost of the kit $26.99.

Here are the images of 2 of the layouts, but kit includes 3.

Please let me know if you would like to order a kit.

Here is a sneak peak of a couple of our new card kits:

Will update you as soon as the kits are available – comments (positive and constructive 🙂 ) are welcome. The Pink Gelato cards look much better in real life. Some of the colours do not show up well in the photos.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your week!
Marijke

Salut Everyone!

Would you like to join us on a journey around the world – learn techniques from different countries….First stop is Charles de Gaulle in Paris.

When you think of Paris what comes to mind? My first thoughts are the beautiful black and white building, the language and baguettes!

Join us for a night of French culture, create 6 French themed card, and enjoy some french food and drink.

Date: Thursday 9th June – 7pm
Cost: $25 (includes food + card kit)
Booking is essential.

Bonne Nuit !

My little girl near the Eiffel tower in Sept. 2010

Hello! What a busy couple of weeks and it doesn’t look like it will be slowing down either. Bridal Expo is on this weekend, another scrap-a-thon booked for the wonderful ladies in Dongara, Chapman Valley show is coming up and even sooner is our trip to Melbourne! (9 1/2 weeks! Yikes!)

We will be teaching 3 different classes per day for 4 days plus have our wonderful selection of brads, card kits and page kits available for sale. I will be showing some here on the blog before we head over to Melbourne so you have first dibs on buying them.

But first let me show you our newest page kit.

The kit inlcudes 6 sheets of Prima Jack and Jill paper, brads, silk flowers, paper blooms, wood flourishes, pearl strips, journaling cards plus instructions for 2 single page layouts. $24,95 for the complete kit.

Limited amount available.

Sometimes working in a Scrapbook shop is like working in a bar or being a hairdresser. People like to tell you their problems. I love hearing about them and trying to help get a solution….no its not about relationships etc….these problems are much more important! – where to start on a layout, where to get some inspiration, which papers suit which photos etc.

And I have listened and am working through all the problems and will eventually have an answer for everyone! lol.

Solution Number 1: Simple Kits (this is the most asked for!)

Every 2 weeks we will introduce a new simple layout pack. Each pack will include everything to make a single page layout. (instructions, colour image etc) and they will never cost above $10.

From here you can choose to include embellishments, titles, journaling etc. If you prefer to make a double page – you can always purchase 2 kits. The aim of this kit is to start you off, and if you prefer the simple look you can leave it as is. These are also great for kids.

Our first kit is created using the Basic Grey Marjolaine collection, and costs $6.00 per kit. There is no title on purpose as there is no lettering included in the kit.

The photo doesn’t really do the colours of the layout any justice (maybe time for a new camera?)

If you would like to purchase a kit click here.

What do you think of this idea?

Will you join in for the hunt?

Today I took the 2 eldest kids to see HOP. What a great movie!! The kids loved it (and so did I!)

Here is a trailer to the movie.

And click here for some activities for the kids.

Will you be going to see it in the cinema or wait for the DVD?

What do you think of our gift line?

Its important to remember to scrap the important information we would like to remember in the future. Each time 1 of my kids celebrates another birthday I create a layout including their favourite foods, tv shows, toys and friends.

Last week my “baby” turned 2 so I made a double layout using Echo Park’s Little Boy collection.

He absolutely LOVES Buzz so he had to be added to the page!

I specifically chose the photo with him poking out his tongue as his favourite welcome to people he likes is to blow a raspberry!

I made a pocket with tags. On the back of the tags I wrote info. about his favourite things.

Its a very bright and busy layout as that captures his personality exactly. How do you scrap milestones?

Now to make one for my little Princess who turned 7 today….

Have you made any Easter Cards yet for those special someone’s in your life? No? Then why not join us next Saturday (16th April) morning at 10.30 and create 8 bright and cheerful cards. If you prefer not to make Easter Cards – you can change the stamp for a different one and these cards are easily transformed in to everyday cards.