April Happenings on the 14th

Good afternoon crafters,

Please go to my previous blog entry on the 12th for all the details on our Easter celebration this weekend. Priscilla has been pulling items from all over the store as prizes you will win IF you find an egg. We will also start our Easter trivia contest on Saturday. Answer a question correctly and you will win a discount coupon that you can use on purchases from Monday the 18th through Sunday the 24th.

New in the store yesterday were embossing folders from Tim Holtz, the Eclips Easter cartridge, and a new A2 card die cut from Sizzix. There are a few pre made cards available that Priscilla made. Those of you that were at the make and take last Sunday will recognize them. It is a pop up card that features a butterfly in the center. I'm fascinated by the way the card works.

That's all for now.... See you tomorrow or on Saturday for the Egg Hunt. The prizes are nice ones. Well worth the hunt.

April Happenings on the 12th

Good afternoon crafters,

We've got a couple of offerings for you today.

First, we are having our annual Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday April 16th. We decided to hold it a week earlier than in the past so that it doesn't conflict with family activities on Easter weekend. Now this event is for Adults Only. You can relive a part of your childhood and experience the thrill of finding an egg. Alas, only one egg per person. But theses eggs are not your ordinary eggs. Amongst all the eggs are the Dragon Eggs. They are the most special eggs of all. Come in and join the fun. One more thing, we will be having an Easter Trivia contest also. A correct answer wins a discount coupon that can be used during the following week (Mon. April 18th thru Sun. April 24th). Come in and join the fun.

I want to thank Amanda and her son Ikaika for bringing the scrapbook pages they made showing Ikaika's first haircut. I wish we had these as samples to show in the store. They did a fantastic job of capturing a moment in time for this young lad. I'm sure as Ikaika grows older these pages will be revisited many times. You can easily see the joy and the love this family share.

Next, we have a photo of Priscilla. Now she doesn't know I'm inserting this in the blog. Ha! Do you think she enjoyed the Make and Take this last Sunday? You be the judge. If you missed it there will be a another Second Sunday next month. They are a lot of fun and they are free.

Marsha dropped by the store yesterday to share the results of some 3x3 cards she has been making. I asked her if she would mind if I used one of them in the blog. The card reflects a simple elegance that I really appreciate. Just using a single piece of string - crafters like Marsha always offer inspiration in their designs and as a friend.

The last item of business is just a reminder that Fran's class "All That Glitters" has 2 seats open.

Thursday, April 14th 6:30-8:30. Cost is $20.00. You can see the photos of the samples in a previous blog. If you haven't seen them, take a look.

See you tomorrow.....

April Happenings on the 10th

Good morning crafters,

This morning I have a couple of offerings for you. First up is Priscilla's Make and Take today (2-5pm). There is a photo in the previous blog on April 8th. To make it more enticing, Priscilla is putting the Basic Grey Flowers "Wheels"

on sale at 25% off for today only.

Fran Kawakami came in the store yesterday and dropped off a sample using the Magenta line of

stamps. She taught me all about "masking". I have it on display at the front counter for your review

Perhaps it will give you some inspiration. I know I am.

I experimented with a couple of new embossing folders from Sizzix yesterday. Embossing folders, as I've said before, are an easy way to make a quick and beautiful card. Would you believe 5 minutes each. I think you will like the samples.

We just received the new punches from McGill yesterday. Included is the Bamboo and Tree Branch punches that several of you have been

waiting for. They offer the crafter the opportunity to create a 3-D image. Also included

in the shipment is the Pine Branch and Starburst punches.

The newest paper in the store is from Grafix. It has been an instant hit with those that have been in the store. Most of the papers offer a holographic image. One of the papers indicates that it is a "glow in the dark". I've got to see what that looks like.

That's all for now. I'll see you tomorrow - or maybe today at the Make and Take.

April Happenings on the 8th

Good morning crafters,

I really enjoy getting up early in the mornings in Hawaii. There is a sense of peace and tranquility that I haven't experienced elsewhere. The first thing I hear are the birds and the occasional rooster crowing. As I go out to get the morning paper, the dawn sky has yet to break over the ridge line to the east. I skip the headlines as it is usually telling me something is wrong somewhere. I don't like starting my day out on a negative, so I go straight to the comics. Ha! Smiles in the morning are good. I usually am ready to leave the house just at the first hint of dawn. There's something beautiful about the first morning light. It's a constant in our lives, but yet different each day. I think mornings are like new babies, they bring a smile to my face and to my heart.

Well, I have a couple of offerings for you today. First up is Priscilla's Make and Take on Sunday April 10th (2-5pm). For those of you that are new, the make and take is a monthly event that happens on every 2nd Sunday of the month. It's free (although, if you would like, we have a basket for a donation to the Food Bank). No tools are required - you only need to bring a smile and a desire to have some fun. This Sunday you will learn how to make a "pop out" card that would be great for spring, Easter, Mother's Day, - for most any date. You will use a new line of paper we just received from Grafix (it's holographic), paper flowers from Basic Grey, and the McGill butterfly punch. I know you will enjoy this make and take. Also, Priscilla says she's going to have special sale on the flowers.

Next up for your review.... Have you ever forgotten that it's someones special day and you were going to make them a card. And you just forgot to make it. Have I got a solution for you. I have discovered embossing folders. Now for most you, you already know about them. But remember, in many things I'm still a "newbie". The photo of the card we show here was made in only 5 MINUTES!! Cut an 8 1/2 x 11 paper in half. Place the paper in the embossing folder (Sizzix) and run it through the Big Shot. Fold the paper into a card. Add a sticker (K&Co.) and use some of the Liquid Pearls as an accent and your done. Amazing! So the next time your in the store ask me how come it took me so long to figure out the simplicity of embossing folders. Even my brother can do this.

Lastly, I wanted to show you an example of a really beautiful folding book that one of our long time friends made. I didn't ask permission to use her name, but many of you know her. I believe she was one of the first ladies to visit our store when we first opened. She uses the Dove of the East line of paper and several different embellishments that surprise and please the eye as you unfold the pages. It's an excellent display of creativity and shows how someone with a desire to learn, takes some classes, isn't afraid of trying something new, can start out as a "newbie" and can become someone who is reallllly good in paper crafting. The best thing is that she loves doing it. And so do those that receive her creations as gifts.

If any of you would also like to share what your doing, please e-mail your examples to wotsearch@hotmail.com. I promise I won't use any names unless given permission. I hope you do... it would give the blog another dimension and help others that are searching for ideas or techniques.

That's all for now.... See you tomorrow .... or hopefully on Sunday

Good morning crafters,

I've got a couple of "offerings " for you on this fine Sunday. First up - Fran dropped the samples off to us for her upcoming "A Year in Cards" class on April 14th. - Thursday 6:30-8:30 pm. Anybody that likes sparkle and bling is going to love this class. Fran combines her creative talent with the Best Creations paper line that is new to the store. I have them on the class board so take a look for yourself. You will not be disappointed

Second up is the Hibiscus wreath we've been working hard to develop. Art initiated the design, then Priscilla would try it out, tweak it and Art would modify it. And then the process would repeat itself. It's Priscilla's goal that our designs work in using all of the applications. The photos presented here are the results of that process. The photos don't do them justice. So, if you have the time, come on in take a look for yourself. The photos show the use of embossing powder, gold paste,

and the variegated foil.

As you all know, I love tools. We just received the new shipment from Scor-Pal to restock our shelves with adhesive and the full size Scor-Pal. We were asked by you card makers to bring in the Scor-Buddy and you will now find it on display. It offers the same precision of the larger

tool, but in a more compact and portable size.

Also our shipment from Sizzix arrived yesterday. It replenishes our supply of the Eclipse and Big Shot machines in the store. I put them out on the floor yesterday and by the end of the day I'm left with only on Big Shot left. Ha! Wait until I tell Priscilla that she is

going need to place another order.

Lastly, remember next Sunday is Priscilla's second sunday Make and Take. It's from 2:00-5:00pm and I'll post photos once I have the samples.

That's all - have a super day and I'll see you tomorrow.