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

They're here!! They're here!!

What's here? The Chatterbox Tag-alongs!! Whew! I've been waiting for this day for a long time. Last year, I couldn't keep these on the shelf so I was really upset when Chatterbox decided to discontinue them while they looked for a new manufacturer. The worst part was, they were discontinued right before Christmas. Believe me, I had some very bummed customers! Now, they are back in stock so get yours while they last.

What is the Tag-along? Well, the best way to describe it is to tell you it is a clamp-on cup and trash holder designed with scrapbookers in mind. It holds a 32 oz thermal mug that comes with the lid and straw so there's no danger of spills on your workspace. Add a ring to hang your trashbag and you have the perfect tool for all your cropping time. Not a scrapbooker? Not to worry. This unique device will clamp onto almost any table or work area. It's ideal for those who sew or quilt. It holds your drink and a bag that is convenient for all those threads that you trim. I've used a different brand of this same type item and it doesn't compare to the clamp that is on this one. My other one will slide off the table everytime I brushed against it. With this one, I've never knocked it loose.

To get yours, stop by the store and visit the "Must Haves" category or click HERE!

Happy scrapping!

Ronda

The Importance of Journaling

So many times at shows, people stop and talk to me about their albums and a theme I hear a lot is how they hate to journal because they don't like their own handwriting. No surprises -- most of us don't, but I have always said that regardless, people should write as much of the journaling as they can and now I have a good reason.

For those who don't know, my mother was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in August of 2006. We were the eternal optimists and were convinced that she would live for many more years but we were wrong. My mom passed away in June of this year due to complications from her chemo. Although we were devastated, we have gradually been working through our grief. Tonight, I was looking through my bookcase and found a book that Mom bought me a couple of years ago called "The Christmas Child". Mom and I watched the movie when she was staying with me on a visit so of course she had to buy the book when she spotted it. It was sad enough seeing the book but when I opened the front cover, I saw the inscription from her in her own writing that said, "Memories are wonderful! Love you, Mom". The sight of her words in her own writing brought back a flood of memories (and of course a flood of tears). That book will stay with me always and every time I look at her handwriting, I will remember the hands that wrote them...how they held me right after I was born and grasped my hand as a child. The hands that sewed my wedding dress and cooked and baked and cleaned for all six of us kids. The hands that were becoming disfigured by arthritis with each year but were always ready with a gentle touch for a child or grandchild. The hands that we patted when she was alive and held as she died. Those wonderful hands will never write another word but I have a treasure. I have my mother's handwriting to look back at through the years and that is a memory that I will hold in my heart always.

Handwriting is such a personal part of each of us. Don't worry about how terrible you think your handwriting is -- one of these days it won't matter and your children will be thrilled to have your handwriting and all the memories it brings back.

Ronda

My Hero

If you are familiar with my kits, you may recognize "My Hero" as the name of one of them. One of the embelllishments in the kit is a definition of courage which defines courage as "...the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery." This past weekend at the Memories Expo in Orlando, I met a real life hero right in my booth. She didn't look any different than any of the other people walking through the aisles and if I hadn't spoken to her, I never would have known. This lady walked into my booth, looked around, and asked if I had anything military. I pointed out the military stickers and embellishments and then showed her the "My Hero" kit. I explained that although it didn't say anything about the military, it did use paper that was associated with all the branches of the service on the background. As I walked back to the register stand, I continued to talk to her about the kit. I explained to her that 10% of the sales from the kit would be donated to SoldiersAngels.org, which is an organization that helps provide a lot of needed services to soldiers who are deployed. When I mentioned the soldiers, she looked up from the kit and I saw the tears start to creep down her cheeks. As she cried, she told me about her son...her only son...who was killed in Iraq three years ago at the age of 22. She told me how he was killed and about finding out and as she talked, the tears continued to flow. When she finished talking, she looked at me and asked me a simple question. "How can I go on? I've lost my only child. How can I go on?"

She paid for her purchases and walked away but she left, she left something behind. She left me with a renewed respect for the mothers of all soldiers and the courage that they must keep in their hearts. To all of you...mothers, fathers, wives, husbands, and all the rest...I salute you. You are the keepers of the faith. You are truly my heroes.

Ronda

Greetings from Orlando!

Wow, I had forgotten how wonderful Orlando can be in November!! When we left Cleveland on Saturday, it was VERY cold but by the time we made it to Florida on Sunday, it was in the 60s and 70s. What a wonderful change!! The weather has been gorgeous all week...sunny and in the low 80s with low humidity. I've always said that I wouldn't even consider retiring to FL but I'm beginning to think I could stand this kind of weather...

Speaking of Cleveland, though, I have to tell you how much I enjoyed the crop that I participated in. It was a benefit crop for a group in Middleburg Heights. The ladies up there were a lot of fun and best of all, I got to see one of my best friends for the first time in a while. Renee, who is the director of Lighthouse Boxer Rescue, came and scrapbooked all day so we got time to catch up on a few things. Here's a photo of Renee and one of her friends. See the bucket there by Renee? Well, keep watching the web site -- we will be adding new kits to create doggy treat cans just like the one I did for Renee after the first of the year. Not only doggie treat buckets, though...the plan is to add LOTS of new kits and ideas for you to enjoy.

This week is the Orlando Memories Expo. If you are in the area, be sure to stop by and visit for a minute. I'll be in booths 804 & 806. There will be LOTS of new kits to checkout so be sure to stop in!

Until the next time, happy scrapping!

Ronda

Another local event

Calling all scrapbookers! The place to be November 16 &17 (if you aren't in Orlando with me!) is the Scrap For Health at the Dayton Convention Center in Dayton, OH. I've talked to these ladies several times and if I didn't already have plans, I would definitely try to make this show! Here's what their website says...

Scrap for Health combines convenient shopping for scrapbooking,
paper-crafting and rubberstamping products, classes, health education,
health screenings and evening crop parties into one weekend of fun, while we
raise $$ and awareness for women's health.

All proceeds benefit Premier Community Health, a local 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization, dedicated to building a healthier community on behalf of Premier
Health Partners through prevention, early detection and disease self-management;
focuing on issues surrounding cancer, diabes, heart and lung health.

Sounds pretty official, doesn't it? I think what it all boils down to is...come on out and enjoy your self while helping to raise funds for the very good cause! Although I won't be there this year, I'm sending them some gift certificates good for anything on my site.

For more information or to sign up, visit their site at Scrapforhealth.org

Happy scrapping and stop back soon for another coming event notice!

Ronda

Album Embossing

Okay, how many of you know what album embossing is? Let's see a show of hands... Not many, huh? Okay, of those who know what it is, how many of you have ever had an album embossed? Oh, even less, huh? Well, here is your chance to find out about it and find out what a great deal you can get. Melanie with MAC Embossing is a friend of mine and I sat with her last weekend at a crop and just drooled over her designs! I convinced her to do a couple of samples for me and we'll talk about those but first I want to explain to the novices out there what it is. Album embossing is when you take heat and a design and foils and make an imprint on an album cover or a piece of paper or ribbon or whatever takes your fancy! It can be an image or words or both and it can be done on pretty much any medium -- albums, paper, ribbons...well, you get the picture. Most people have their albums done but for those who know me, you know I'm pretty unconventional. My idea? I convinced her to try it on a piece of Bazzill cardstock and the result was fantastic! In fact, I was so impressed, that I'm planning to release a whole line of 6x6 albums in the next month or two that will feature her embossing. The first one cover she did is for a dog album (see the picture above). Melanie did a column of silver foil paw prints going down one side and my dog's name in the center. I'm telling you, it brought tears to my eyes! The second one is a little girl in the middle of the cover. Melanie added my niece's name to the lower right corner and it is spectactular! I can hardly wait to show Lauren her new personalized album once it is done. Now, what would you pay to have your name or your pet's name or even your child's name added to the front of your album? Need a graphic? Melanie is your source! She even does custom graphics! Who else offers THAT?? :O And that's not all...how about having the subject embossed on the spine of your albums so you can tell at a glance which one you are looking for? The price for this service is every bit as low as the cover but check out how fantastic this looks! No more searching through all the dark blue albums to find the one you want -- now you can use the same color for several albums and you will always be able to find the one you want.

Now, I know what you are thinking...sounds great but she's in Indiana and I'm not so how in the world am I going to get my albums embossed? Simple -- you can mail them to her. All you do is mail the cover or whatever you want to have done and she will emboss it and mail it back to you. All you have to do is visit her at her website (http://www.macembossing.com/) and tell her what you need. I guarantee, you will love the results!

And watch for those new albums coming soon to the website...

Happy scrapping!

Ronda

Catching Up!

Okay, I'm not doing so well on keeping up with the blog but I'll try to do better. With the end of the show season rapidly approaching, I should have a little more time to work on it.

I just got back from a Crop Till You Drop in West Lafayette, IN -- what a lot of fun that was! Melissa does a terrific job of organizing this event quarterly so if you are in that area, be sure to check it out. Her next event will be in January.

If you missed out on that one but are in the Dayton area, here is another one you might be interested in...it's a Scrapbook Open House and weekend of cropping in Englewood, OH. Hosted by Kristy Wombold and Darlene Sipos, this is your chance to crop and shop for 20 hours!! Here is the scoop:

• Where: The Englewood Earl Heck Center, located at 211 Main St in Englewood.
• When: Friday, Oct 26th from 6pm - midnight and Saturday, Oct 27th from 8am to 11pm.
• What to bring: You, your pictures, your supplies to crop, and of course a friend.
• Cost: $30 if registered before Oct 15th or $35 after that for the whole 20 hours
• Details: We will supply breakfast, lunch, drinks, snacks and a gift when you register. There will be mystery package give-aways, prizes donated by area merchants, and a grand prize on Saturday. We will have all of our Creative Memory suplies there if you run out of something or need to purchase anything throughout the day. Ronda Houston of Beyond Scrapbooks will also be there with her page kits and computerized die cut machine to cut your personalized titles or overlays.
• To register: Call Kristy Wombold at 937-698-5182 or Darlene Sipos at 937-836-7539. Seating is limited so please register today! For more information, contact either Kristy or Darlene at the number listed.

I still have lots more events to pass along but they will have to wait until the next post! Be watching...

Ronda

Upcoming Show

Welcome back! Just a quick note to remind you about the Midwest Scrapbook Association's Convention coming up September 7 and 8 in Indianapolis, IN. We'll be set up there right next to Scrapbooker's Buzz and just wait till you see the next products we have developed! Not only do we have new page kits featuring the SBI Kidz but we also have new mini album kits with those adorable brats! Always wanted to do a 6x6 album but couldn't come up with enough ideas to do it? Well, we've taken the work out of it and put the cute back in. ;) Be sure to stop by and check them out!

Starting this month, we will also start our monthly crops back up so be sure to reserve your seat now. I have a feeling the September one is going to fill up quick and I already have people asking about October's crop. As always, the crops are free -- I only ask that you bring a snack to share and your own beverage(s). Bring lots of pages to work on and be prepared to get a lot accomplished. I will be offering the custom cut titles at this crop, too, so make your list up now! :D For more information, check out our Townhall page.

Till the next time, be safe and enjoy making your memories.

Ronda

Upcoming weddings

I want to take a moment and congratulate two of my nieces on their upcoming weddings! First, Michelle is getting married this Friday. Michelle is a veterinary radiologist in Michigan and claimed that she was never getting married. Until Joe happened, that is. ;) What a cute couple! We are planning a road trip to attend the wedding in Benton Harbor, MI at a place called the Blue Dress Barn and according to the web, there are lots of photo opportunities up there from the town itself to the lighthouse on the shores of Lake Michigan. Of course, I'm planning to take lots of pictures at the wedding itself. Good thing I just invested in a new digital camera! I bought the Fujifilm S700 and I am absolutely thrilled with it!! The picture quality is awesome. Now if I could just learn how to use all the features, I would have it made.

The next upcoming wedding is Melissa. She and Ryan will be getting married in September. This will be a tear jerker for me. I spent a lot of time with her from the time she was born until now so it will be especially hard for me to acknowledge that she is old enough to actually get married. She will be a senior at Ohio State University this fall so not only will I watch her get married, but I will also get to see her graduate from college. Gosh, that makes me feel old!

Of course, with both of them getting married, I'm already planning the gift album I will be giving them. I'll be sure to share the pictures when they are done. Speaking of albums, when was the last time you did a small album? Watch our website over the next few weeks because we are going to be introducing a whole new line of 6x6 album kits and I think you will love them! First up will be a recipe album featuring the SBI Kidz line. Want a sneak peek?? Well, here is the cover...

And if you think the cover is cute, wait until you see the inside!

That's all for today...see you again soon!

Ronda

Back to Blogging!

Okay, I'm back to blogging, I guess! It took a couple of years and in fact, I sort of forgot that I had a blog but now that I found it again, it's time to start keeping it up to date. ;-)

So what's new with Beyond Scrapbooks? Well, conventions are booming! I've done 6 already this year plus a crop or two and I still have 3 conventions and 3 crops to go. I am working on kits and some new ideas for the show in Indianapolis which is just a few weeks away. Show dates are Sept 7 & 8 and the show is at the Marriott East in Indianapolis, IN. I almost didn't get in because I waited so late to submit my paperwork but at the last minute, someone else backed out and left me an opening. Woohoo! Indy, here we come!!

The latest and greatest project I'm working on now is a new album that features the SBI Kidz from Scrapbookers Buzz! Wait till you see this...it's something totally new for me. Teresa and Joan from SBI helped me in my booth at the Great American Scrapbook Convention in Grand Rapids, MI a couple of weeks ago and the planning started then. For those who aren't familiar with the SBI Kidz, you don't know what you are missing! To view them, visit the website at http://www.scrapbookersbuzz.com/. The new kidz for this kit aren't on the site yet (I don't think) but they are adorable with their white chef's hat and the batter all over their mouth. If you are in Indy, stop by and check them out.

Keep watching the website for a design change -- I'm modifying it again! I am bringing back the original village idea but with lots more buildings. I'm planning to build a library where you can view how-to's for a variety of new techniques. The first one will be using crystal lacquer which we featured as the make-n-take at the GASC show. If you stopped by and tried it, you will know what I mean when I say it's addicting! Those who tried it went nuts over it! There will be lots of pictures and maybe a video eventually if I can figure out how to do that. I will also be adding lots of new products and sample pages in the next few weeks, if time allows. In the meantime, just be patient for another couple of weeks.

On a more serious note, a few of you may know that my mother passed away in June from complications from the chemo she was taking for her Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. My family and I are doing the Light the Night Walk to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in hopes that someday, someone else's mother won't die from this incurable cancer. To donate to our team, visit my walk page at http://www.active.com/donate/ltnCincin/2148_RondaH. Ten percent from the sales of the Mom page kit will also be donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in her memory.

Until the next time, keep on scrapping!
Ronda

Welcome

Welcome to my newest endeavor -- a blog spot. :) Who knows how often this will get updated, but I will try to keep up with it.

First of all, why a blog spot? Well, it's where I can sit down and post comments to you. I can let you know about conventions that I've been to and new products that I find. I also plan to share more of my own work on the site...layouts that were done just for me instead of for the business. LOL!

Check back soon and look for new posts. Until then...happy scrapping!

Ronda