Poems For a Page

Most people know that there is a cancer walk called the Relay For Life and of course there is the Susan G. Komen Walk For the Cure for breast cancer but there are many other walks for cancer. Our family started participating in the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light the Night walk each year after we lost our mom to Lymphoma last year. Regardless of which walk you participate in, It Takes Two has a Poem For a Page that is perfect for those pictures from cancer walks. It's called I Believe in a Cure and it really touched my heart when I read it. Here are a few lines from it...

I walk because I care.
I walk to honor those who no longer can.
I run because it's one small thing I can do
to make a difference.
I can give someone the courage to go on.

This is just one of the poems that I recently added to the store so be sure to stop in and check it out. I will also be adding a new kit using their Cancer Awareness paper so be watching for it!

That's it for now...time to go work on some new kits! Happy scrapbooking!

Ronda

Create Your Own Scrapbook Paper

Okay, I have two REALLY cool ideas for you and they sort of go together. First, I have to tell you about a new paper company called Craft Sassy. Craft Sassy is the first printing company to print your own custom-designed scrapbook paper by the individual sheet. If you can upload a digital file, you can create your own exclusive scrapbook paper design. Traditional paper sizes (including 12” by 12”) and a variety of paper stocks including vellum and double sided printing are available. They even print to environmentally-friendly inks. Your design options are unlimited! Print scrapbook paper of your children’s artwork, a scenic landscape or a hard-to-find sport or activity. When you are looking for the exactly right piece of paper, look to Craft Sassy. Now you can print your own darn scrapbook paper!

Now, for the second thing...how about a background generator that you can use for the paper??! Visit BgPatterns and try this out. Oh my gosh...this was a BLAST!! I made some teal background paper covered with white palm tree outlines for a kit that I'm working on -- now I just need to import it into PSP and create a whole sheet of this stuff. You can pick your own background color and texture and then add repeating patterns all over it. It is a blast, whether you create paper with it or not.

That's it for now...enjoy!!

Ronda

Scrapbooker's Buzz Kids!

Okay, most of you have seen the Happy Birthday Girl Scrapbook page kit (the Boy is sold out) in my page kit section, but did you know that Scrapbooker's Buzz now has their own line of stamps with these adorable little tykes?? Well, they do and they are soooo cute!! Teresa of Scrapbooker's Buzz has done a wonderful job of putting together lots of ideas for using them, too. Just check out their gallery for tons of ideas for using the kids. They have lots of cards and scrapbook page layouts posted for you to use for inspiration.

Why am I mentioning this? Well, Teresa and I have been working together on some new projects and one of them will be out in the next few weeks. No, I'm not telling what it is but I think you are going to love it! And that's not all...we will be working together on a whole new line of page kits! Woohoo!! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. We have talked about doing this for quite a while but now it's actually going to happen. For now, you will have to wait but trust me, you are going to want to watch for these new scrapbook page kits. Plus, we may even pass along a few new ideas for cards and other mini projects.

Till the next time!!

Ronda

New Products!

As promised, I'm loading the store with new products this weekend! For those who have stopped by my booth at a crop, you may already be familiar with the Poem For a Page line from It Takes Two, but if you haven't seen these yet, you need to! I have added lots of the favorites featuring verse for baby boys and girls, Mom, Dad, and the Grandparents, but there is lots more. One of the most popular verses is a tribute to a loved one who has passed. The Remembrance Poem sells out at practically every show so if you haven't gotten it yet, now is your chance -- I just got in a new supply.

A new addition to the Poems line are the Cancer Walk Poem and the Cancer Survivor Poem. No matter whether you do the Relay For Life, the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, the Light the Night walk for Leukemia & Lymphoma, or any other walk to raise money for a cancer cure, you need this poem.

Okay, that's it for this morning but I'm still restocking the store so watch the shelves closely!

Ronda

It's December already...

...and I suddenly realized how long it has been since I posted on the blog! Sure, there were plenty of reasons...travel, work, grandkids, dogs...the list goes on and on but none of them are a good reason to neglect my blog so I'm making a promise to myself to try to make time at least weekly to post.

Not much to start with but keep watching...I'll be posting the first of my new kits this weekend and if you love Flamingoes, you'll love the new Florida page kit!

Until tomorrow!
Ronda

Another Scrapbookers Dream Vacation!!

Woohoo!! Nancy from Dream Events emailed me this morning and asked if I would be interested in setting up as a vendor at the upcoming Camp Hill, PA. Am I interested? Of course!! These scrapbooking weekends are a blast! Imagine this...you are "forced" to sit in a HUGE room with 300+ other people for up to four days and all you have on your agenda is scrapbooking. There is music playing and massage therapists available into the wee hours of the morning to ease those tired neck muscles. Now, imagine all the wonderful vendors who bring in every scrapbooking supply you can imagine and you can walk up and browse whenever you want. No driving to the local scrapbook store...no waiting in line (unless it's Sunday morning and you are paying your tab)...and no family to distract you with demands to be driven here or there. Sound like heaven? I can vouch for it -- it is wonderful! You pick how many days you want to attend and you can even share a room with another scrapbooker to save on expenses. This truly is a Dream Vacation for scrapbookers! I have to admit, though...one of my favorite parts of the weekend is Saturday night when they crank up the music and play "YMCA" by the Village People. Those scrapbookers are up dancing in the aisles!!

The Camp Hill SDV is Thursday, July 31st through Sunday, August 3 and is being held at the Radisson Penn Harris Hotel & Convention Center. Hope to see you there!!

Until the next time...happy scrapping!

Ronda

Has anyone seen my Kidz?

Okay, I know I'm not the only one who has done this...I had several of the Chef Kidz from Scrapbooker's Buzz for one of my new kits and I've managed to "misplace" them. Now normally that wouldn't be a problem, but this time it has created quite a catastrophe. See, I posted the new "What's Cookin'?" kit last week and it was so popular that I sold out of all of the kits that I had within 4 days. That wasn't a problem until I realized that I had put the rest of the Chef Kidz someplace safe. Right now they are so safe that even I can't find them!! :*( Don't panic if you just have to have this kit, though...I've already sent Teresa an email begging her to make more Kidz for us. There may be a slight delay but hopefully this kit will be available again within the next week or two. In the meantime, be sure to check out the other new kits on the site.

If you have never seen the Special Delivery kit in person, you are missing out! It features an adorable stork and lots of mats to load up with pictures of that new baby plus some adorable baby themed ribbon sliders from Pebbles. As always, assembly is simple. We even assembled the stork for you so that you can focus on the rest of the layout.

We have also added a re-designed Florida kit and a Fish Tales kit, so be sure to check them out. If you are looking for overlays, be sure to check back often. I've added several new ones -- they are just waiting on me to scan them so I can add them to the website.

Until the next time...


Ronda

Layout from a customer

I know, you aren't going to believe this but I'm actually posting yet again. ;) I'm hoping to starting posting on a regular basis so be sure to check back often or subscribe to our blog to be notified of updates.


Today's post is about a layout that one of my customers sent me. When I was at the Scrapper's Dream Event in Kingsport, Angie stopped in and shopped for kits. She mentioned that she already owned some of my kits and was telling me how much she liked them so I asked her if she would mind sharing one of them with me to post in the gallery. Once I get the gallery up on the site, I will include it there but for now, I wanted to display it in my blog. The kit is the Mom kit and features lots of cardstock and patterned paper along with the title "Moms are like Quilts". It also includes a quote about moms and why they are like quilts. I think Angie did a wonderful job!


The Mom kit is very special one to me...it was created in honor of my mother who passed away last June from complications of lymphoma. Because of this, 10% of the sales from this kit are donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society every year when we do the Light the Night Walk. Last year, our family raised $1700 for the cause. In memory of Mom, I will be doing a special offer on the website in August so be watching...you will save money while helping me raise money for a good cause.

Until next time...

Ronda

Catching Up (yet again!)

Okay, okay, I know I have been a terrible blogger lately but actually I have had a semi-good excuse. I was busy getting ready for the Scrapper's Dream Vacation in Raleigh-Durham, NC. Wow! What an awesome time!! I met lots of new people and had a wonderful time. Well, until Sunday that is. That's when I finally ventured out to my car and discovered that my back window was shattered from the heat. :O I finally got it covered with plastic and taped up and got everything loaded up and on the road. I made it home at around 3am. Oh, and did I forget to mention I got stopped for speeding on the way home, too?? Gosh, what a trip but I'm home, safe and sound and ready to go again. The next one that I will be attending will be...are you ready for this???...DISNEY! Woohoo!! I am SO excited!!

More later...

Ronda

It's May Day!

Gosh, where does time go? It seems like just last week there was snow on the ground and today it was in the 70's! Lots has happened since you last heard from me. First I did my first Dream Event and man was it amazing!! I had a blast! The people there were wonderful and sales were great. I took the cutter and spent most of the weekend cutting some new graduation overlays. Wait till you see them! I'll try to get photos up in the next couple of days. I did manage to get some pictures of the crowd, though, while they were doing the Village People's "YMCA" song. Talk about hilarious -- these folks were great. Teresa (Scrapbooker's Buzz) and I had a terrific time and look forward to next year's event. If you are still waiting for the Easter kit, watch the website in the next few days -- it's done and it's going live. ;)


Now that it's spring, how many of you are out taking pictures of the flowers and things? If you are like me, you are tired of taking snow pictures and you are more than ready to start on blooming things like trees and flowers. Since May is National Photography month, I thought I would offer a few photography suggestions for you. First, although I'm sure you want to take pictures of everything, try to focus your attention on the details. Let me demonstrate... the first picture here is a pear tree in my backyard. I love the blooms and I think the tree is beautiful but the first photo just doesn't do it justice. The second picture is much more beautiful to me than the whole tree. It shows a cluster of flowers with the greenery of the tree in the background. Same tree, same flowers, but looks at the difference! If I were looking at a scrapbook with the first picture, I would probably glance at it and go on but the second one would definitely catch my attention. How about you? Look at your photos and see if you are missing the details.

Okay, it's off to bed to rest up before the 3rd Annual MOPS Crop this weekend. I talked to the organizers and they have TWICE as many people this year as they did last year! WOOHOO!! Should be a fantastic time! If you signed up, I'll see you there. If not, there's always next year.

Until the next time, happy scrappin'!

Ronda

Springtime in Tennessee

Gosh, it seems like forever since I've posted on here and so much has happened since then!

First, I got accepted at my first Scrapbooker's Dream Vacation (SDV)! Woohoo!! That means I get to go to Kingsport, TN next week and spend a few days with lots of dedicated scrapbookers. This is a new venue for me so cross your fingers for me. I'm really looking forward to meeting everyone. As usual, I will be taking the cutter with me and doing custom titles, overlays, and die cuts PLUS some custom word books. I will be introducing a couple of new kits so I'm hoping they do well. The crop is April 10-13th and from what I hear, it is "local" packages only. That doesn't mean you can't still travel down there -- you will just have to stay somewhere else. :) For more information, visit the SDV website.

Next, I'm vending at what I call "Kristy's Crop". Actually it isn't just hers, but it's easier to say. That will be the weekend of April 18-19. This group of ladies is always a lot of fun and there is always some very yummy food. The crop is in West Milton at the Community Grace Brethren Church. To sign up, email Kristy at bwombold@msn.com.

Just a few weeks later is the 3rd Annual MOPS Crop here in glorious Miamisburg, OH! This year's event is even bigger than ever -- it is now TWO days of scrapbook fun! It will be May 2 and 3rd at the First Church of God in Miamisburg. For more information, visit our Town Hall. This year you can even pay by credit card in the Beyond Scrapbooks store! Don't wait -- you won't want to miss out on this one. There will be lots of food, fun, and prizes.

Whew! I'm tired just thinking about all this scrapbooking! No time to rest, though...it's back to the kit re-stocking for me. Hope to see you at one of the upcoming events.

Until next time, happy scrapbooking!

Ronda

Out with the old and in with the new!

Everytime I turn around, I hear about another local scrapbook store closing which really saddens me. A common theme is that they aren't making enough money to stay open or they are just burned out on the business. Running a scrapbook store isn't an easy task - -there is a constant demand for all the latest and greatest products which owners can't afford to order in unless there is space and money. There is also the competition of the chains with their 40% off coupons. Even the Dollar Tree stores are getting into the scrapbook business -- just look at the Miss Elizabeth's scrapbooking line! How can a "regular" store compete? They can but sometimes I think it is just too hard to do. Personally, I love my local scrapbook stores! I shop there at full retail for paper that I plan to use in kits to make sure that I actually like it enough to order it in bulk. How about you...do you support your local scrapbook store? If not, who's fault will it be when they close the doors?

As an online business, I don't have as much of an overhead but I still have to sell the old in order to make space for the new products. Because so many of the stores around me are closing, I want to make an extra effort to give you a new source for all the latest and greatest items in the scrapbook world. In order to do that, I need to sell off some older items which means I will be adding lots of items to the website and some of those items will be on sale! Once it's gone, the shelves will be restocked with fresh merchandise, some of which is already on order. I will also be listing some limited edition kits so be sure to check back often -- once they are gone, they won't be offered again! ;)

Once the store is fully stocked, I will also go back to adding tutorials to the website to demonstrate how to use your existing products such as the Crop-a-dile, eyelet setters, and other tools that you may have purchased but never used. I'm going to be adding lots more projects to the site, too, so be watching!

Until the next time, happy scrapping!

Ronda

Scrapbooking "bargains"

A couple of years ago, I talked to a lady at the Orlando Memories Expo about the Crop-a-dile. This is a tool that I love because it simplifies using eyelets...simply punch the hole, insert the eyelet, and squeeze. I was doing a demo of how to use it and I found it very interesting when this lady told me that she had already bought one but no one had ever showed her how to use it! She got frustrated with it and stuck in a drawer in her scrapbook room. Sound familiar? Believe it or not, I hear this more and more...stories about tools and the latest gadgets that people purchased but never used because the local craft store didn't have anyone to show them how to use it. Sure, she got it with a discount coupon but did she really get her money's worth?

First of all, the price was marked up above "recommended retail". I've shopped in this store lots of times and since I know what the price is supposed to be, I'm always surprised to see things marked way above that price in the stores. Why are they marked up? So that you can use your 40% off coupon without it costing them as much! Is this legal? Sure, it is! The manufacturer gives a recommended price -- stores can charge more than that if they want but they are not supposed to charge less.

Secondly, there was no one to show this lady how to use the tool. To the store, it was just another sale. A good scrapbook store would have not only shown the customer how to use the tool but would have also explained how to use all the features of the tool. Another consideration is the strength and hand size required to use the Crop-a-dile. It's not for everyone -- people with small hands tend to have a harder time using it so before I sell one, I have the person try it so that I can make sure they will be able to use it.

So my question is...was her purchase really a bargain? She bought the tool for around $20 with her coupon and took it home and shoved it into a drawer. That's an expensive paper weight in MY book! How about you? Do you have a tool that you bought and aren't sure how to use? Let me know what YOUR "bargain" buy was and maybe I can show you how to use it to get your money's worth.

Until the next time!
Ronda

Ronda

Happy Belated New Year

Did you ever stop to think about how unfair the card makers are to the perpetually late person? The only "late" cards available are those for birthdays! Happy Belated Birthday! Gosh, I should probably stock up on these since it's the only kind I ever send. ;) But what about all the other occasions we forget to send cards for? How about "Merry Late Christmas" or "Sorry I missed Sweetest Day, Honey" cards? I think there may be a market for these! I know I can't possibly be the only one in the world who forgets to send cards. Got ideas for others? Post them to the comments and we'll start our own petition to try to get Hallmark to add these to their selection.

Life in our household is a little hectic right now. We are now foster parents for a beautiful boxer! We lost the our last boxer in September to cancer so after three months of being boxer-free, we decided to help out Lighthouse Boxer Rescue and foster Dalton. He's a beautiful brindle boy who needs a good home. Dalton was found in a ravine half-dead and full of fleas, ticks, and other disgusting things but after a couple of months of medical care, he is fully recovered and raring to go! This guy is a real sweetheart. He doesn't seem to have had much human contact in his life. He isn't afraid of people -- he is just a little cautious but warms up to most people within a few minutes. He loves kids, though! If you are interested in adopting Dalton and you are in the Ohio area, contact Lighthouse Boxer Rescue to complete an adoption application. If you are interested in fostering or volunteering, be sure to complete a volunteer application while you are at the site. If you aren't in Ohio but are still interested in helping a rescue group, visit the American Boxer Rescue site for links to your local group. If your favorite breed isn't boxers, don't despair -- do a google search for a rescue group.

Great! Scrapbook Events is hosting a big show in Taylor, MI this weekend at the Gibraltar Trade Center and of course, we will be set up at the show so stop by and see us! The show is Saturday, Jan 19 from 10am to 8pm and Sunday, from 10am to 6pm. There will be lots of vendors and free scrapbook classes so come on over. I will have three new kits plus a few new products to show off so don't miss it. Admission is free so there is no excuse not to go if you are within driving distance.

Okay, that's it for today...but keeping watching. I'm going to be announcing a new product that will be available soon and you are definitely going to want this! :)

Ronda