Merry Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve 

Dylusions Style

Somehow I think we use a LOT of Dylusions Sprays in this store.  

We had so many empties we were able to make a wreath.

Getting Ready for the Holidays...

It's that time again and we've come up with a few ideas to make your holiday planning a little easier.

Tim Holtz recently released a new pillow box die, and Nancy and Rosemary got together today and made some beautiful samples:

I hate to admit that anything Nancy had a hand in is cute, but darn it, I really like these!  What a great way to make a gift card something special...

For those of you who know scrapbookers who are just beginning, we've created a special section full of product specially geared for new scrappers:



There's a simple layout example and the materials used to make it, a few scrapbooking kits, and basic tools that are perfect for beginners.  This aisle is right in the front of the store so it's super easy to get new scrapbookers outfitted for success - come on in and check it out!

The Great Furniture Debacle

(An essay on the wild and wonderful happenings at ESS as described by Tamara.)

Alternate titles for this post include

"The Real Reason Nancy is a Blockhead" (my personal favorite)

or Rosemary's pick
"How to Drive Rosemary CRAZY in Three Easy Steps".

It's been going on for a while now. It's a conspiracy, I'm sure.

Nancy is SO determined that no one should win an award but her - she really is diabolical. She is patient and very, very cunning, our Nancy.

It started with a few pieces of furniture that she brought in to add to "the vintage, funky charm of our store", but that was just a ruse. She say's there is a plan, but I've discovered the plan - there is no plan. This is her way of keeping Rosemary and I off balance so that we cannot win awards.

You see, every week we have fairly set schedules. I only work Wednesdays, and Rosemary is off Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. Every Wednesday Rosemary and I come in after having had several days off and we work together. You may think this is unimportant, but no - keep paying attention. This is crucial to the plan, because what happens is we come in to the store together and discover that absolutely nothing is where is was when we left last week. Nothing.

Why, do you wonder, would Nancy move everything around while we are off? Well, I have discovered the answer. Rosemary and I have worked here for a while - well, Rosemary for quite a long while and me a much shorter, more succinct while.

The point is, those of you who know us know that we've been here a while, which is why you must be so confused when you come in and ask, "Where is the animal paper?" and I lead you to an empty aisle and say something witty like, "Well, here is where it was last time I looked." Yes, I too can see that it is not here now. I'm am equally sure it is here somewhere, I just have no idea where. I will keep looking for it and will be sure to let you know if I turn anything up. I can hear you thinking to yourself, "That girl has been here a while now - doesn't she know where the animal paper is?" No. No I don't. You give up on me, realizing that I'm clearly a few cards short of a deck.

You turn to Rosemary. You say, "Last time I was here you had this really awesome Military themed scrapbook album - can you help me find it?" While I hide in the corner, praying you won't ask ME anymore questions, I hear Rosemary lead you to the place where the albums used to be and mutter something equally witty like, "Maybe I walked down the wrong aisle."

And wait - here is the most magical part of the plan. Since Rosemary and I are working together on Wednesdays that means that both Michelle and Nancy are off. Which means, of course, that the people who moved everything around in the first place aren't here to help us find anything.

Are you getting the picture yet?
At this rate, Rosemary and I will NEVER win any awards.
And I'm sure that's what Nancy has had planned all along.
Like I said, DIABOLICAL.

Here is pictorial proof of exactly what I'm talking about.... she took all the albums and moved them here:



From here:

Which, as you can see, is now full of amazing 7 Gypsies stuff (which, while amazing, is NOT at all like a scrapbook album when you're looking for one).

The 7 Gypsies stuff used to be here:

Which, as you can see, is now an expansion of our awesome Graphic 45 section here:





You see it, don't you?

Clearly you can see how Nancy has plotted and planned her great coup, right?

What's that? OK, OK, I hear you.

The new sections look great... yada, yada, yada.

Now there's 12 more feet of vintage loveliness for you to peruse.... whatever!

It's a plot, I tell you.

I have absolutely no idea what horrors are in store for us next week, but you can be SURE I'll keep you posted - now that I know the truth I am on the case.

(Really, I'm just not going to stop until I win an award. An awesomely amazing, more than 10 second award. That's all I have to say about that.)

The Tim Holtz Emporium

We received some more of the newly released Halloween Dies from Sizzix. So to fit them in we had to do a little reorganizing on our Tim Holtz Wall.

It was all hands on deck



and heads were rolling as

we managed to squeeze it all in.

Some of the projects using Tim Holtz Products are up on the shelf

Another view

and another

I think I forgot to mention to the girls that we are expecting some more
new Tim products from Advantus this week.

Guess we are going to have to reorganize again :)

We made some changes

to the Christmas Area in our store. I know most of you think we move things around constantly to annoy you but, it is really to try to fit in all the deliveries. This week the Christmas area had to move. We were tired of having it in three locations, and we know there is more coming so we managed to get it onto one area.



when I mean one area. I actually mean two entire walls filled with Christmas paper and embellishments but the walls are next to each other so it really is one area :)

Now if I can just figure out where to put the Vintage Christmas that is coming in this week . . . . eek!

Copic Refills, Design Team Layouts and an Operation

Copic Ink Refilling Service:




Our Copic Ink refilling service should be in operation by next week. (I hope) I spoke to my friends at the Copic Warehouse on Friday and our order is being packed and should be shipped at the end of this week :)


Design Team Layouts
I thought it would be nice to share some of the recent work that has been submitted by our Design Team.

Here is the first photo:

A wonderful layout by Lynn using some of the Pink Paislee Papers and a Maya Road Sheer.
I love the bold colors on this layout.

This layout is by Michelle and uses the Penny Lane collection from My Minds Eye.

Here is a close up of the flowers on the layout. Michelle started with Felt and Chipboard flowers, she painted them and then used rub-ons over the top. What a great way to alter them.


and onto the operation:

Some of you know about Rosemary's skills but in case you have not heard the story, here it is.

A couple of weeks ago Rosemary answered the phone at the store to a lady who thought she was calling a doctors office. Rosemary always quick with the chatter, told the lady that she had dialed the wrong number but, that she watched a lot of medical shows and therefore had some experience and could she help her. The woman laughed and hung up.

Since then Rosemary has honed her medical skills watching even more medical shows. I thought we should show a photo of her first successful operation. The patient lived and Rosemary luckily did not have to amputate :)



We will show you some more design team layouts tomorrow. . . . . . . .

Class Photos & more new stuff

We got this stunning collection in yesterday. With luxuriously hypnotic textures and vivid hues, Que Sera Sera breathes spirited creativity into any project, inspiring whatever will be to be.

Foiled and glittered with wonderful colors. This paper collection is absolutely breathtaking.






We had two classes yesterday so we are behind in getting all the new product into the computer. Yesterdays deliveries and also todays have to get in as well as the last make & take for this weekends anniversary celebration has to get done. It is going to be another busy day. . . . . . . .


I will hopefully see a lot of you guys this weekend.

Today at the store

Today was a crazy busy day at the store, between all the deliveries and the classes and the customers I did not get home till10:00pm tonight.

Here is out UPS guy today although you can't see him behind all the boxes.

We got this lovely card display board today with all the stamps to go with it. Fantastic Easter and Spring Images.


Renee, one of our customers took a Bento Box Class with us last week and got so inspired she ran home and whipped up these masterpieces.


Didn't she do a great job?

Here are some cards she made using some of the Asian Papers we sell.


Here is a close up of the darling owl.
Loved these two cards as well. She is very talented.

Well I had better go and get some sleep, tomorrow is going to be another long day. Goodnight!

Winner

Here is Deborah S. who was the lucky winner of our December Bag full of Stuff. I am sure she will have fun going through all the stuff in the Braggables Bag.

We just got the new Little Yellow Bicycle Love Letters Collection in. Very very nice papers and embellishments. Will take a photo and post it later. Till then, have a great day......

Cricut Design Studio

I thought I would take some time to show one of our customers creations. She is taking Mary's Cricut Design Studio classes at the store and after two lessons she created this with the new deep cut blade and her cricut. Isn't it fantastic?

I can't believe she was able to do this after only two classes. I will have to find some time and take a class myself :)

Check back as we will be posting a Make & Take that we will be offering this week.

New arrivals

We just received these wonderful papers from Creative Imaginations. The wintery ones are absolutely loaded with glitter! The red papers are an old fashioned red color perfect for older photos. I can't wait to use these papers to make a class for our 12 days of Christmas.


We also received the new Tim Holtz products. These are something I am going to have fun playing with. Fun new grungeboard and metals. Yippee!

New Pulp albums finally arrived, these are my personal favorite. I love the feel and quality of these albums.

Yesterday we had a little bird in the store. A few of the customers were scared with it flying around. I thought it was sweet, it was a little brown bird with a lovely yellow chest. It flew into the window and was stunned. I was afraid to put him outside while he was dazed in case a predator got him so I scooped him up and placed a shopping basket over him and he joined our morning class. It took a good 30 minutes for him to revive and then we set him free. I wanted to take a photo as he was lovely but I did not want to scare him with the flash. Something exciting happens in the store every day!!!

New Bags

We got a delivery of these new cute bags last week. They come in the three colors shown. I love these bags. Not only can you insert photos of your loved ones, you can also insert handmade cards or small pages. Of course if you are like me you can store your cell phone and keys in the clear pockets so you can FIND THEM :)







Here is another photo of our Supermodels showing off the new bags.


Have a creative and wonderful day.