Classes???

We've had an influx of new customers over the past few weeks and many of them, and our regular "beary scrappin' gals" have been inquiring about classes. I've had a few emails from girls with years of paper crafting experience that have asked about teaching classes. Last year, classes were a flop! No one showed up, nor was anyone interested in the classes that our independent instructors were offering.

So, before I start meeting with new independent instructors, I would like to know what it is our customers are looking for in a class. Besides "TEAR BEARS" (those are always a room filler, and yes, I will be scheduling a few of those shortly), what are you interested in learning? Unfortunately, I don't have much time to teach, so I will need to let our instructors know. Are you interested in layouts? cards? stamping? altered projects? a special technique? Everyone asks for classes but no one really says what they want.

If you can take a moment and post a comment below and give us an idea about what intrigues you, we would be very happy to try and accommodate your desires.

Thank you in advance for posting your input. Our store is here to serve you, a member of our "beary scrappy family".

"Double Punch" Weekend - Upcoming

I'm approaching another birthday milestone in September. I dare disclose my age - LOL. To celebrate, I'm giving our store customers "double the punches" on their customer rewards card Saturday Sept. 5 and Sunday Sept. 6. Online shoppers, be sure to check the website for a special discount for you too. :)

Now, shouldn't I be the one getting the gifts??? On the contrary! You ALL deserve a little something. It's my way of showing you my sincere, heartfelt appreciation to all of you that got us through these last few "dreary" months. Hopefully, our Ebay customers find us too so they can reap some rewards. They contribute to almost 70% of our operation, and if it wasn't for them, we'd really be in bad shape. My husband and I thought for sure that we would be closing up, but I think we just might make it. You already gave me the best gift of all... HOPE!

Thank you for keeping us going!

September CROP Announcement

It's about time! We've planned a Crop for September. Click on the image above to read the details. We just made the annoucement today and we are already filling up!

Do things every slow down enough to...

scrap again! Gosh, I miss playing with paper. It's been weeks since I've picked up a piece of paper and a trimmer and actually did something with it besides pack it in a box for shipping. Not that I am complaining... but I miss scrapbooking.

So why have I not been able to play with paper? Another week in the life of a busy mom who owns a scrapbook store. Abby and Dougie started school this past Monday. Where did the summer go!!! Talk about trying to get back into the swing of things. Wow! Another grade, more homework than last year, early mornings, and a toddler that misses her siblings terrible! Not to worry, she starts pre-school September 9. Boy, that will be a tough day for me. But, on the brighter side, once she gets through her first week, I'll be opening the shop back up a few extra hours during the week.

Another major event this week that really had me bummed out... I had to take my elderly kitty to the vet. She's almost 20 years old. That's pretty old for a cat. Anyway, turns out her kidneys are failing and we don't have much time left with her. The doctor gave her some antibiotic for an infection that they can't pinpoint, but it should fix her up a bit. The doc says that we could have anywhere from 6 weeks to 1 year left with her before her body starts shutting down and I'll have to make "the decision". I'm not looking forward to that day.

If you have been to the website, you'll notice that I have been messing around with the graphics again and redesigning. That's my "scrapbooking" fix for now. So, please pardon my mess over there while I play. :)

Off to post another topic. Thanks for stopping by and checking up on things. Your comments are always welcome.

Finally... Updating our Mulberry Paper Inventory!

Sorry I've been MIA, but we've been super busy. As most of you have ready, we had some issues with getting our last shipment of Mulberry Paper in. I've learned an awful lot about importing by overseas cargo boat. I think the next time will be much easier.

Well, we *had* good news on Monday, but when the paper arrived on Wednesday, so did the *paperwork* and a notice from Customs that our shipping containers and merchandise lacked the all important *Country of Origin* mark and we could not sell it! Who would have thought. If it wasn't one thing, it was another. But, now I know what to expect and how to help prevent things from going wrong.

After a complete emotional break down, and a pleasant conversation with our US Inspector, I was able to make the required corrections by adding a *Made in Thailand* label each and every package of paper. We already label each pack by color, so adding *Made in Thailand* wasn't too big of a deal. We labeled everything, including remaining stock from previous shipments. We had a VERY long weekend of labeling. Even the children pitched in.

Now it's Mom's job to update all of our inventory online. :) That could take some time. I'm taking some new photos of some of the papers so that you can better see the actual color and texture of the paper.

We did get some Mocha in this shipment. It is beautiful. I don't understand why they discontinued it... but none the less, we've got lots more until it sells out.

Back to work. I'll be posting again later tonight.

Thanks for stopping by.

Liquidating our Inventory on EBAY!

Last week, we began a major store wide liquidation effort on EBAY. We have way to much inventory. New items are being listed daily at unbelievable mark downs! Even if we could bring in some new stuff right now, there is simply no room to do so. So our loss is your gain!

GREAT DEALS are waiting! Even 0.99 Auctions on Spellbinders and MORE!

Monday Brings Good News!!!!

Finally, after weeks of anguish...

The Mulberry Paper is Coming! We've completed Custom's Intensive Exam. The trucker has been dispatched to the site for pick up! YEAH!!!!

At least not all Monday's are a drag.

This Week.....FRUSTRATION!

feels like it will never end. This has been our worst summer ever! Dear Husband is stressing with work, I'm stressing over the business... and again, no summer vacation! I hate summer!

Tuesday morning, my dear husband awoke in the middle of the night with a stomach bug... it was ugly! My dear mother-in-law took care of the kids and my dear husband all day while I was working at the store. She even did all the laundry for me :). THANKS MOM!

So, more bad news and the inevitable may be coming sooner than I think. Tuesday, the store was quiet again... no visitors. I do not believe we will be changing our operating hours back from our summer hours. In fact, I think I may have to return to the "real working world" and keep the store open only on weekends if it can manage to sustain itself. Unfortunately, I am not intending on ordering any of the new releases this month. We simply cannot afford it. We are liquidating lots of paper kits on ebay as I speak. Most of our store and online store is already marked down 20-35%. My husband has asked me to keep it going until our 1 year anniversary in October. Honestly, I'm ready to bring it back home. The last 3 months have been very bad for the store... I honestly don't know how we have managed to stay open this long. Thank goodness dear hubby has been working lots of overtime because that is what has been sustaining the store's operating expenses.

And to top the week off... I found out today that our huge order of mulberry paper has been randomly selected by Customs to undergo an intensive exam. That meant holding our shipment in storage 2 extra day, and of course being charged for the additional storage time... plus the pallets. Apparently the warehouse in Philly that it was being held in is not a "Customs Approved Intensive Exam Facility", therefore they required the load be transported to another storage facility... WHAM!!! There is another charge! Come to find out that there are also additional fees for the "intensive exam"! Can you sense my frustration!

Normally our paper is shipped by air, but given the size of this order it was way to expensive to0 fly it here without having to increase the end costs. Taking the more "economical approach" seemed like the better option for us and our customers. Almost 3 months later, this has been nothing but a nightmare! I can't wait to wake up from it.

For those of you waiting for the color selection to return, we should be taking delivery late next week... so I've been told. Because of this delivery, we have not planned any store classes or crops this month. The size of the order is going to take up the entire back room until it can be inventoried and put away.

Some Good News... I'm just about finished with our "Beginner's Guide to creating with Mulberry Paper". A comprehensive tutorial on cd full of tips, tricks, and step by step instructions for creating Tear Bears. This kit will include my original pattern. You will be shocked at how this pattern is presented. I'm really excited about this and can't wait to get it all finished. I don't want to release our patterns without having the beginer's guide available.

The written text is in pdf and is already 20 pages long (in chapters) It will most likely be longer once I start adding all the photo illustrations. That will begin tomorrow along with a tutorial on eyes and eye lashes. I've had some set backs this week (obviously), so I am a little behind schedule. Several Beary Patterns are ready... we will have the original bear pattern available seperately and with the beginner's guide, plus some other patterns available. I will also be making examples for illustration this week. I need to make some bears that don't have clothes attached to them - LOL.

We are also going to be branching out into cutting files by the end of the year. I have created so many of them that I am crazy not to share them with everyone. The only problem... with all the cutting systems out there, learming this file conversion stuff has been a chore. I only work in wpc files. I think I have svg figured out. I hate hate messy cutting lines, so I have to clean them all up once I convert them. Although, I love technical stuff and playing with graphics, etc... so this is right up my alley.

Sorry for all the bad news, but there was some good news attached.

We are on Facebook!

Guess What? We are now on Facebook! Come join us for the fun. Maybe I'll be better keeping up with facebook than I am with our blog :)

A beautiful Layout by Killiam Creative!

My friend Susan at Killiam Creative made her first Tear Bear Layout! I am so proud of her. Her work is simply beautiful and definately worth taking a peek at. She's currently has it listed on Ebay. Here are a few sneak peeks, but be sure to go check out the full image gallery.
Just click on the title to link you right to her listing.

Of course, she used our mulberry to create her adorable little bears :)

Thank you Susan for allowing me to showcase this beautiful layout and these fluffly little bears! Whoever wins this layout will certainly have a treasured piece of work.