More Happenings on June 9th

Good evening all,

Hot Off The Press showed up today with a delivery of new and re-ordered templates. In total there are 15 templates to choose from. The Scandinavian Hearts template intrigues me with the different heart designs that you can make. A Butterfly Heart, Flower Heart, and Checkerboard Heart are among those to choose from.

A template that I will use a lot is the one called Easy Stitches. Use this template to quickly add elegant detail to any card or scrapbook page. It took a couple of people that frequent our store to show me the possibilities. Lay the template on the paper and use any color pen to follow the pattern you like.

Among the other templates delivered was a Bead Maker. Choose your bead designs from (oval, barrel, double barrel, wavy, short, and cone shaped beads).

The Lattice Folds template is back on the shelves. With this template you can create an interesting decoration to the folded edge of your card. We have a sample that makes it easy to visualize.

Fold-It Flips gives you several interesting 3D flowers that you can make. Speaking of 3D, there are templates that you can make Pop-Up Cards, Kirigami Paper flowers, and several different styles of large flowers.

I think I saved the best for last. Priscilla brought back the very popular Cupcake Template. This makes a great party favor. You can use most any paper and fill the finished cupcake with your favorite treat. It's not a huge cupcake so it won't cost you an "arm and a leg" to fill it.

You will find it difficult to choose which template you want to start with. But they are very inexpensive (less than an embossing folder) and they take up little room.

I'm writing this edition of the blog while Fran is teaching her Fabulous Folds class. I learn a lot from just sitting here and being quiet. Ha! They are having a good time. I think classes are fun because you learn something and it's also a social thing. I just chuckled at what they were taking about. Their response was to ask me if I had gone through male menopause yet? I told them that Marines.......well you can imagine what I said. I've got to learn to be more quiet. That way I become less of a target.

That's all for now....see you tomorrow

Ps. The magic word for Sunday is "Makana's pig". Use it and I'll give you a 30% coupon that you can use from the 20th - 26th. You can use it on any regular priced in-stock item. It won't be valid with any other offer.


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Happenings on June 9th

Good morning to a sunny Kailua day,

Some days you wake up and you can't wait to "meet the day". This is one of those days. Why you ask? There is no particular reason. I just feel good. Now the important thing is to finish the day feeling that way. So I hope we get a lot of visitors in the store and I can be of some assistance to them.

Tonight Fran is have her "Fabulous Folds" class. For those of you that haven't seen the samples please check out my previous blog. She has two seats left, so give me a call if you want to a part of the fun.

We received the new shipment from Dreamweaver yesterday. The shelves have been restocked with an assortment of embossing pastes, pallet knives, tape, and stencils. If you are new to stenciling, just ask me and I'll show you how easy it is. Lynell Harlow will be visiting in September and will be teaching a new technique she has developed. I'm told there will be two classes, so stay tuned and I'll let you know the details as they are revealed to me.

Our manufacturing department has been busy this past couple of weeks. Whether it's resupplying our own product for the the store or engraving special items that you have requested, the machine seems to be always doing something. Art has been busy in designing a new stencil for us - it's a wave background. Interestingly, we found that it looks as good when applied vertically as well as horizontally. Secondly, we have some new Father's Day stamps for you to try out. I've included photos for your review. If there is anything we can do to assist you in engraving a special gift for your dad please give me a call.

Oppps, Almost forgot....Priscilla's 2nd Sunday Make and Take is this coming Sunday (12th) 2-5pm. And, as always it's free. As soon as I have a sample I'll put it on display. It will be a fun time as usual.

That's all for now. Enjoy this day....It's going to be special

Happenings on June 6th

Good morning everyone,

It's Monday and the start of a new week and everything seems new and fresh. The thunder and lightning is over (I don't think I've heard thunder so loud) and the sun is back.

Fran came in yesterday and dropped off the samples for her "Fabulous Folds" Class on Thursday June 9th (6:30-8:30pm). If you like movement in your cards, you will really enjoy this class. Most cards are static - you look at the front and open the card. Fran's cards, because if the folding, is all about motion. You are going to love this class. Priscilla took one look at the samples and said "sign me up for the class". Give me a call and I'll add your name to the list. The tools you will need to bring is a paper trimmer, bone folder, adhesive (both tape and glue), scissors, and a scoring tool. The cost is $20.00

Finally, I had the chance to make another card yesterday. I been itching to play with the eclips machine, so I found a bear on the "Special Occasions" cartridge and just "played" with it. This goes to show you how easy the Eclips machine is. I haven't read a manual or played the DVD and had no problem making the card. Now I think I will read the manual and see what more I could have done. Priscillahad the final parting shot at the end of the day. She said, "Do you realize that you made a "cute" card". Ha! I had told her when we first opened the store "Marines don't do cute". If you have any interest in the Eclips, come in and I'll show you how easy it is. Ps. Part of the card is made with "Glow in the Dark" paper.

See you tomorrow....

June happenings on the 3rd

Good morning everyone,

I woke up this morning and I thought I was back in Oregon. East to West totally grey skies and rain. At least it wasn't cold. The thunder and lightning is awesome. I wonder who might come out and visit us today. So I thought I'd give you an excuse, but you have to know the password. Anyone who comes in the store today (Friday June 3rd) and says the password will get an extra 10% off their purchase. Those of you that have the store discount card would get your typical 10% plus another 10%. and, since it was so popular over the weekend, if you spend $100.00 I'll give you a free 40% discount coupon. This of course is not valid with other offers and is limited to stock on hand. The password is yish-ka-bibble.

See you today....


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Location:Maluniu Ave,Kailua,United States

Happenings on June 1st

Good evening everyone,

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and that everyone is safe and sound. Priscilla and I had a ton of fun this weekend. Many of you took the time to come by and take advantage of the fantastic sale items. Whenever Priscilla puts the paper on sale I know I'm going to be busy. In addition to the locals, we had people from varying parts of the states. Florida, Utah, Arizona, California, Oregon, and New Jersey were all represented. It amazes me when people from much larger metropolitan areas (most any place would be larger than Kailua) tell me that they've never seen a product we carry in our store. It makes we feel special when I can share a technique or show how a tool is used. Now I know how teachers must feel when they work with their students. And to think back, my knowledge of a craft store was zero six years ago. Yes, it's been almost that long.

One thing didn't surprise me - The LetterPress Plates from Sizzix didn't last long. One week and were out of stock. Our patrons took to them in the same manner that they were impressed with the embossing folders (no pun intended). Priscilla's list of what she has to order is growing. Ha!

A couple of new items arrived today. McGill sent us two punches that had been on back order. One they call a Floriano - but to me it looks like a nicely shaped cherry blossom /sakura punch. The 2nd punch is a starflower, but it looks like it could be a 5 pointed plumeria flower. When you come in the store tell me what you think. I believe they will move quickly. Punches that reflect local flowers generally aren't on the shelves long.

That's all for now. It's getting late and my stomach is beginning to say "feed me". We are expecting additional shipments this week, so I'll keep you posted. Oh! I almost forgot -CLASSES.

Fran has a class called Fabulous Folds on Thursday June 9th 6:30-8:30pm Cost $20.00. Fran's 2nd class for the month is on Thursday June 23rd and is a part of her A Year in Cards series. The theme will be "Wedding". The time is 6:30-8:30pm and the cost is $20.00. Don't forget we will be having our monthly 2nd Sunday Make and Take on June 12th 2:00-5:00pm. As always the Make and Take is Free. Donate a dollar to the Food Bank if you can. No photos for now, but I'll post them as soon I get them.

That's really all for now. Thank you once again to all of you that made our Memorial Day Event a huge success. It will be interesting to see how all of you that earned your 40% discount coupons will use them.

See you tomorrow.......

May Happenings on the 27th

Good Evening,

Are you ready for the 3 day weekend? We will have a lot happening in the store. First, we will be open on Monday. Second, please check my earlier Blog entry from this morning. It will give you all the details and photos of the Make and Take(s) that are happening this weekend. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday 12:00 - 4:00pm.

Now for the good stuff - MEMORIAL DAY SALE - valid May 28 - 29 - 30 , 2011

1. If you have a Military ID you will receive 20% off any regular priced non-sale items. This excludes any other offers.

2. Spend $100.00 and you will receive a 40% discount coupon that will be good on any regular priced item.

3. Come in this weekend and check out our in-store specials on Ellison, Sizzix, and Tim Holtz Dies.

4. 20% off all Copic Pens and Memento Pen Sets

5. 50% off all Boxed Stamp Sets.

6. 30% off any Ten Second Studio Studio product line.

7. 20% off the 7 Gypsy product line

8. 20% off all paper - excluding World Win, Basic Grey, and Bazzil paper lines

It's been a while since we've had a sale - so we are making this one a good one. As an added bonus, this Monday I'll have another trivia game ready to test your Memorial Day knowledge. I'm not sure what the prizes will be but I'll come up with something.

See you tomorrow.......

May Happenings on the 27th

Aloha everyone,

Memorial Day is a very special day. It's more than just a three day holiday where we barbecue, go camping, or just simply "kick back" and enjoy an extra day off. This weekend we take time to honor those people who serve and have served our country to keep us all safe. Hawaii is a special place for me because my dad was on the Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor on December 7th. Fortunately, he survived and hence my brother Jim and I came to be. Both Jim and I honored our dad by joining the Marine Corps. Ha! My dad could more than hold his own in our comparison of the services. They are good memories of him and he had amazing stories to tell. My war was 13 months and then I could rotate home. Today people serve for six months and then rotate home. For those in WWII there was no time limit. My dad's tour was 5 years before he could rotate home. No matter the time, we honor their service this weekend. Take the time to remember them.

If asked, would you know that the Poppy flower is the flower associated with Memorial Day? Priscilla has come up with a really cute Make and Take for this weekend. You will decorate our clear crystal tubes with an origami red poppy flower, Eclips paper diecuts, and patriotic ribbon. The clear crystal tubes have been used for many events as party favors. We hope you will have the time to come and celebrate with us, talk story about family and friends that serve and have served. The Poppy Make and Take will be from 12 - 4pm each day - Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. The cost of the Make and Take is $3.00 with $1.00 of that going to The Food Bank.

I will be adding to this blog entry later today with information on big sale we will be having.

See you tomorrow.....