9/30/08 - Internship for our Marketing Assistant...

One day, out of the blues...Cori says to me..."Mommy, wouldn't it be a good idea if we had a contest at the store for Halloween." I said to her "Well, what do you have in mind?" And she says "I could fill up a jar up with fake spiders and see who can guess how many spiders are in a jar..." Of course, my reaction was "What a GREAT idea Cori! Who gave you that idea?" thinking she had just talked to "Auntie Becky" who is our VP of Marketing here at Scrap -n- Stamp. Cori says.."No one Mommy, I thought of it myself!" (Becky, you would be so proud of her!)

So I go on to tell her that since it was her idea, she would have to come up with what we needed to put the spiders in, how many and basically... she had to plan it from start to finish. The biggest challenge I thought was for her to think of a write up for the blog to let all of you know, but within 10 minutes she was typing away. If you see the computer in the background of this picture below (to the top right), her description about this contest was complete...and it goes like this:

"Hi, my name is Cori. My mom is the owner of Scrap -n- Stamp. I thought of an idea. We can put fake spiders into a jar and estimate the number of spiders. It's a contest to see who can guess the closest number of spiders in the jar. If you win, you will get some stuff from my moms store. Here's a picture of the jar. Good luck!"

Cori busy counting how many spiders she wants in the jar (only she knows!)

So there you have it...our intern for a future marketing director. Cori, mommy is so proud of your drive and efforts to make our little store so successful! xoxo!

For all of you out there...come take on this challenge and good luck!

9/29/08 - Another successful Jan Ken Po Gakko Craft Fair

Over the weekend, we participated in the Sacramento Jan Ken Po Gakko (aka JKPG) arts & craft fair. JPKG is a summer program that my kids participate in every year. The curriculum of the summer school program is to teach our kids the Japanese American culture, the local community resources and to be able to pass it down from generation to generation.

Our largest annual fundraising event is HUGE (over 100 plus vendors) which focuses on Asian arts and crafts. For the first time, Scrap -n- Stamp participated in the craft fair and we made some really cute designs...

Mini Album made from CD folders

Debbie. Denise and Sommer spent the last two weeks prepping and making the cutest Wine containers and Asian cards, each one with so much detail involved. Once we finalized all the projects, Denise wrapped them up and made them look so beautiful.

With everyone's help and effort, the JKPG craft fair was a huge success. All the vendors donated 10% of their proceeds to the school. Domo Arigato!

I've Just Seen A Face...

Yesterday was a crazy busy day for us beginning at 8:30am. My princess kiddo had a football game to cheer for from 9-10. Then we were at the theatre constructing the set for my next play, Deathtrap. At 4pm when ran home to clean-up for dinner. Then in to KC for dinner and a little shopping. Finally we were back home by 8pm. I'm pooped! And my arms are so sore from lifting and hauling flats from the balcony down to the stage. But enough about me...

I scraplifted the idea for this layout from CTMH's Reflections book. This is a fun way to showcase a child's different moods. I used paper from Cosmo Cricket's JACKS WORLD
I did not have buttons to match, so I took some clear buttons, covered the back with Glossy Accents, and stuck them to some scraps of the patterned paper. Once they were dry I trimmed around the edges, added some embroidery floss, and adhered to the page with Glue Dots. Clear buttons can also be altered with acrylic paint or Staz-On ink.

Spiders, spiders, spiders, too many to count!!!!!!

Halloween time is here!!!! Come visit Scrap -n- Stamp and enter your guess as to how many spiders are in the container, the person who is closest without going over will win a spooktacular prize. The winner will be announced on October 31st. Good Luck!!!!!!

Won't you be my Neighbor?

I created this layout for an online class I'm taking called Got Sketch 102 (taught by Valerie Salmon and Janna Wilson.) I used Kelly Panacci's 360 Degrees paper & chipboard accents (LOVE those bright colors!), Sandy Lion Disney chipboard shapes, Bazzill Just the Edge strip, some World Win cardstock, and a bit of...wait for it...oh what could it be...Bo Bunny Double Dot cardstock - of course!

I was so pleased with how the LO looked I decided to make another one for y'all to check out in the shop. What a great page for summer or birthday pics! I used most of the same goodies - just added some ribbon and Karen Foster glittery mini brads - OMG have you seen these?! They come in a Tic-Tac container - what FUN!

I still had some leftovers, so I made a couple cards. I think Becky & Marilea would be proud! I even used Cuttlebug embossing folders to make the swirls and dots on the cardstock.

Swing on by for a free surprise

Mention this blog today (9/23/08) - Friday (9/26/08) and receive a free surprise gift with your purchase!!! Hurry supplies are limited.

9/23/08 Technique of the week

Sorry Ladies, I pulled a Lisa. Or maybe I should call it a Renee. She forgot to blog on her day and I forgot about the technique of the week :-) OK, so mine was a bit more forgetful, but really where does the time go????

This week come by Scrap-n-Stamp and learn the technique of Chalking......with this technique you can chalk all your favorite stamped images. It is a simply fabulous technique, so make sure you come by the store and give it a whirl. And don't forget the chalks will be 20% off!!!

This technique will be available today (9/23/08) to Saturday (9/27/08).

Stuck on You

Are you a sticker floozy? You know, you can't resist buying every.single.sticker you see. Do you have stickers coming out your ears with no intention of using or any idea what the heck to use them for?! Or maybe you have sticker phobia and think the idea of using stickers is so 1999. What ever your sticky situation might be you MUST check out this video I came across on Tresa Black's blog Fabulously Artsy. She has some fab ideas for using up stickers - my favorite is the glitter tree with brads. And what a great idea to use a heat tool to help remove adhesive. Who'da thunk it! Have fun!

9/18/08 Wine or Witches Brew we have the perfect gift container for you!!!

Check out these containers from Creative Imaginations, they are the perfect host gift. Just decorate them with your favorite paper and add a special bottle of wine or sparkling cider. They come in white and you can paint them and add paper to them to make them any way you like.

This one I used black acrylic paint, and the new Halloween paper from Creative Imaginations. And to spice it up I tied spider rings to the ribbon.

School is Cool

Oopsy Daisy! I forgot to blog yesterday - better late than never, I always say!

Here's another school layout for y'all. My last goody package had the new KI Memories School Days paper & chipboard and DCWV Grade School paper (Thanks, Sommer!).


I've been noticing circles a lot in my scrappin' mags recently. So I punched some circles and added some chipboard embellies and buttons for the pattern on the right. I placed more circles and chipboard embellies on the left to give the layout some balance. It's hard to see in the photo, but there's a hidden journal card behind the far left pic. BTW, I didn't attach the 2 photo mats on the left...that way they can be placed whichever way best suits the pics.

Hope y'all like it. Now back to my studio - I'm working on some Halloween goodies!!!

Slip slidin' away

We have a great yard for slip-n-slidin'! It slopes from the front down to the back - can't wait for this winter to sled down! My kiddos spent a lot of time this summer slippin' & slidin'.

Once again I turned to Becky Fleck at pagemaps.com for inspiration. In addition to 12x12 layouts, she also makes round maps, card maps, half maps, mini maps, etc, etc! If you haven't yet, check it out.

Uh-oh it's Magic!

I was playing with this paper in my studio on Sunday and decided it would be great for Disney stuff - you know, the traditional red, black, white...

Both layouts use Jenni Bowlin Studio paper & journal spot, plus Minnie's has a monogram from JBS (which I stickled, of course!) Each LO also has some chipboard accents from Sandy Lion - Kelly Panacci 360 Degrees & Disney (duh!). I used the Disney overlay - cut it up, punched it to look like it was torn from a notebook, and attached with brads and/or a hidden glue dot.

Mickey's LO I was "brad happy." No, not Brad Pitt happy - although he does make me happy - yum! I used red brads to attach the ribbon, the chipboard circle, photo turns, dot the "i" in memories, and encircle "fun." Fun, huh!

These layouts are just fine on their own but would also make a fantasmic :) 2-page LO. They will be on their merry way to California very soon. (Yes, Deb, I am working! ha!)

09/09/08 Boys Gotta Love Trucks

I just love this new truck paper and sticker line from Karen Foster. This paper would be great for a little boys birthday party. It would make super cute invitations. And if you like this layout it is for sale at Scrap-n-Stamp. All our layouts are now available to purchase. Which is perfect if you don't have time to make your own layouts, you can purchase these and all you have to do is add the pictures. Here are a couple of cards made with the same paper line. This was truly a group effort, Chas made the Beep Beep Card. From her leftover paper I made the layout, and from my leftovers Debbie made the Vroom Card.

School Days & some fun!

Just in time for back-to-school! Yes, I know most of the kids in Elk Grove returned to school in July, and my kiddos started their new school the middle of August. Here's a layout great for those school days photos. The circle can be moved to any number to represent the grade in school - cool, huh?!

Now for some fun! A friend shared this website with me called Yearbook Yourself. Simply upload a photo of yourself and see how you would look in a yearbook from 1950 up to 2000. It's a hoot! The kiddos, Sean, & I were literally rolling on the floor laughing. I actually cried because I was laughing so hard. Here's a little peek at my family...

Erin, 1974

Ian, 1970

Sean, 1956

Lisa, 1964

Sidewalk Sale--September 6, 2008

Just a reminder for all of you scrapbookers, cardmakers, and crafters we are having our Sidewalk Sale today. We have many goodies at 50% off retail price like stamps, stickers, paper, magazines and Quickutz dies. Come by to get these good deals!!!!!! We are anxious to see all of you shoppers.

09/05/08 Summer Fun

Last weekend Deniz and I decided to make the trek to Santa Cruz to visit the Grandparents. I still don't understand how such a little person needs so much stuff for a weekend trip. As you can see Kaitlyn had a blast on the swings. We went to Dennis the menace playground in Monterey. I can't believe the park is just as I remember from my childhood, except it seemed a bit smaller. If you are ever in Monterey with children you have to stop at this playground!!!
Kaitlyn and Grandma waving from the tunnel.......
Even Deniz had a good time.....I will have fun making a scrapbook layout for these pictures!!! Does anyone have any creative ideas for a title???

P.S. Thanks Becky and Bob for taking care of my other children, my kitties Mia and Bella.

September Challenge - So What! Sew Buttons!!!

Grandparents' Day is Sunday 9/7. So in honor of my Grandma, this month's challenge is to use buttons on a layout or a card. Why buttons? Because I inherited my Grandma's sewing notions including 100's of buttons. And buttons are HOT to use in paper crafting.

Your buttons can be actual buttons, chipboard, paper, felt, whatever! You can "dress" your buttons (use thread, ribbon, brads, etc through the holes) or leave 'em, ahem, naked.

Remember to bring your creation in to the shop by the 25th. The Girls will scan your work and return the original to you.

Here is Marilea's lovely card. She used Pink Paislee's Spring Fling line, some felt, and buttons.

My layout is my little Beauty (dressed as Sleeping Beauty) posing with her favorite princess, Belle (another beauty!). I used Bo Bunny's Ella line & Double Dot paper, Bazzill The Edge strips, various Primas, and loads of my Grandma's buttons.

09/02/08 And the winners are.....

Congratulations to the August Challenge winners!!!!!! For the 12x12 layout congrats goes to Jamie Ellis--keep up the great work. And the card winner is Barbara Ghausi--great job and congrats. Keep up the great work ladies and keep those entries coming in. Don't forget to check our blog for September's challenge!!!

09/02/08 Water Babies

Here is a layout that I have been working on for a few days, sometimes I just have to leave the layout and come back to it later. It's almost like writers block, but for scrapbooking :-). I just love these pictures of Kaitlyn and Jack. Here I used the Page Map that Lisa selected from last month's challenge. I really like this page map, I think you can make it work with just about any pictures. Here I used Pebbles inc. Summer Fishies Paper, Pebbles inc. School Days Circle paper, Bazzill Bling paper, DCWV Mini Scalloped cardstock and some old chipboard letters I had in my stash that I sanded and inked so they would match, I also added my new favorite product to the letters, Glossy Accents. This stuff is so cool it makes the letters look shiny like they are wet from the pool. I also used the Marvy Jumbo Splash punch and applied the Glossy Accents to them as well.