New products received this week...

Some great new stuff arrived today - glad we have a two day crop this weekend so I can get in some play time with these goodies.  Also had a surprise visit from Janet and Mr. Casey (the white dog) for those of you who are not regular attendees in class. They are well and bid everyone a cheery hello! Zentangle and coloring books, summer and Americana paper lines, stencils by various companies, Illustrated Faith Praise/Smash books back in stock and Ranger aprons.  Last week we also received the Provencial line from Kaisercraft.  New pet, travel and baby on the way!

Stop by and see what's new and some of the products we've been playing with.

Here's a link to some of the great products we received this week from Ranger, Bo Bunny and Sugar Pea designs.   We had fun finding room for the new stuff by moving more stuff to clearance and taking orders for the next Ranger order .    Be sure to stop by or give us a call if there's anything specific you want to preorder .   Hope to see soon !

Items received week of February 22nd

Items received week of February 15th

It may be a dreary and cold day outside... But inside we are warm and full of color. Today we received our CHA orders of:

1) The new Ken Oliver Colorburst (Caribbean, Lamp Black, Burnt Umber) and also the 12 new Liquid Metallics and his 12x12 paper packs of Splash and Watercolor Flowers 

2) Prima Julie Nutting Doll stamps

3) Photoplay's Julie Nutting Paper Doll paper line and embellishments.  

4) New Die cuts from Petticoat Parlor including the Star Wars series and A new line of coloring Art Card papers.  So much fun!

Now - where to put everything...guess we'll be needing to put more stuff on clearance this week. 

Stay warm and  safe everyone!

Calendar update for classes through April 2016 is now loaded.  Sign-ups are now being taken.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend.  We will be back in the store on Tuesday, February 2nd.

Current Calendar of Events

Some great new products received yesterday from Dare 2 B Artsy.  New stamps, dies and paper.  We also received new stamps last week from Stamping Bella.

Our store will be closed Saturday, 1/23, due to the weather.  We will reopen Tuesday, 1/26, for normal hours.  Thanks!

We will be closed part of Thursday this week (1/21). We will be open from 3:00pm-8:00pm that day. Our family lost a wonderful pillar to his battle with cancer this week. Jim has always been another Father-in-law to me and always did so much for everyone in his circle of influence. He will be greatly missed by us all.

http://www.diehlfuneralhome.com/testObit.php?request_pk=720

Well everyone, it's been several years since we updated our blog because we were using our website and Facebook pages for consistent updates.  The inevitable has happened, and our website has crashed, so we will try to keep our blog in our interim period until we decide how we will proceed. Our technical folks are working on recovery of the site too.

Just a reminder that we will be closing at 5:00PM, tomorrow, Friday, January 15th.

We will still be sending out newsletters and special events so you can always get to our calendar from our most recent newsletter. We will share the link here as well too.

Current Calendar of Events

Thanks for your patience through this transitional period.
Stacey

2 Years and Climbing!

As I sit this morning, praying and getting ready for our doors to open, I am pondering and thanking God for the many blessings that Joys of Life has brought me in the last two years. Sometimes it seems like yesterday we were painting the fixtures, and getting things ready to open. Other times, it seems like it's just always been here and what I've been doing. It's called "convergence", when you are doing what you know God has called you to do with your life. The fellowship and friendships shared within these walls is fun, sometimes full of tears and touches hearts (mine and yours). Each day is different, the needs are different, the expectations constantly changing, but the peace of knowing this is where I'm to be right now with my life, with the talents God has given me, gives me peace. I come in to work with great expectation for what He will do that day. For how He is growing the business, the people he is bringing through these doors (and via Internet) from all over the country and into Canada. I cherish the relationships built, the stories shared, the way I've seen many of you grow and create from your heart. I am blessed to have you sharing this journey with me. I know I haven't arrived. Things are ever changing in life and what we think tomorrow will hold, but I know God is directing my steps, leading me in what He wants me to do each day and in helping me create works of art and letters of love through my scrapbooking. I am grateful for today, our 2 year anniversary, just as I am for every other day i go through. Thank you all for what you bring Within These Walls at Joys of Life Scrapbooking.

Trying to Get Over the Winter Blues

It's been such a tough time through this winter season. The weather just keeps pummeling us and I know I feel beat down by it. The store has had many slow days as we deal with the weather worries, class cancellations and people just wanting to stay inside. You guys though are all excited for classes which I'm grateful for. The calls and emails help keep my day busy when there are not many people out and about. I guess the one good thing from all the weather is that we have been able to get ahead a little bit with scheduling events and doing samples for upcoming classes. As I have taught so many of you, you have to just scrap what makes you feel good that day so that's what I've been doing to try to fight the winter blues.

We've finished working on the classes for February. All the samples are in the store and on the website. We are also working on future classes - this past crop night I finished the Artist Printer Tray we will be doing for Mother's Day in April. Good thing because we already have a bunch of people signed up who were in the store on Saturday. I'll have those photos soon loaded to the website. Attached is a photo of one of the new Bo Bunny Paper Lines that I can't wait to get in!

This weekend has been a great time spent with the grand kids. Now I'm even more excited to begin to scrap some of the those photos soon. So, enjoy the 'snuggle time' you are having with the cold winter weather. And hang in there - it should be over soon. I found this quote I thought was appropriate in light of what we're feeling...

For being the shortest month of the year, February can sure drag on and test our grit. Instead of fighting winter to its bitter end, try embracing the subtle ways nature can sustain you. Take a walk around your yard. Listen for the first birdsong. Turn your face to the warmth of longer sunlit days. Spring is just around the corner.
(Jane McKeon)

Happy New Year

As we embark on the new year here at Joys of Life Scrapbooking, we look forward with eager anticipation to those new faces and people we will meet as well as give thanks for each of you, our current customers and friends. This year promises to be one of many new projects and ideas. We are already getting in new products to recover from the end of year sales and are anxiously awaiting the new products that will be revealed later this month at CHA's (Craft & Hobby Association) big show in CA.

Keep watching the blog, newsletter and website for updates. We will try to be better this year about doing updates and keeping you in the loop beyond just receiving our newsletters.

Blessings for the new year!
Stacey

A Holiday of Intention

How did it go so fast? How is it that we are only a week away from Christmas and only two weeks away until 2011? Did I sleep too much that it flew by so fast? I am in awe at how quickly this holiday season was upon us and it seems from reading cards from family and friends, it hit us all blindsided. Even though we know its coming. Even though every year we vow not to let it happen again next year. Even though I have been making cards since August with many of you in classes. I just don't understand. But then I pause. I think about why CHRISTmas is even around. What are we to be really giving this holiday.

As I find myself praying though this morning how to get it all done without too much stress to me or my family, I realize, for me at least, how this has all happened.

This year, the Christmas season for me has been a Holiday of Intention.

- The classes we have been teaching have had meaning - with specific thoughts of who you or I may even be making he gifts for.
- The Christmas cards being sent out by me are not sent yet because I want send personal handwritten sentiments, not just a signature. They will update people on our lives for the ones we don't see often. They will ask about their families and their lives and they will remind each of them individually why they are special to us.
- The gifts we are giving family and friends, are about memories shared with them and how important they were to us. Recapturing the emotions and fun shared with them throughout this year or in years past where we can. Some may not even be done for Christmas (gasp!).
- The holiday parties we are attending will be with those people that matter to us and share life with us and we will be sure those events don't interfere with personal family time. It won't be just a "yes" because we got an invitation. Many events and gatherings will be with family we want to see and spend time with.
- The time has been spent caring for and helping friends in need. While many people have been running around to give the "perfect" Christmas with decorations and gifts, we have been intentional about calling and offering help, serving and reaching out to others:
* for the friends we have that are lonely and need a phone call just to say hi
* for the friend who had a negative stress test and are worried about heart disease and what may be needed to fix that, worrying that every pain could be a heart attack
* for the friend we have whose adult daughter is recovering from a stroke
* for the friends we have who have had surgery this week or are getting ready for surgery
* for the friends we have with a cancer diagnosis, or who are in limbo waiting for the possible diagnosis
* for the families that we minister to, many with loss of job or what we would consider lesser living conditions, but who we have built relationships with through the ministry this year, who we now know and share our lives with
* for the families of former prisoners/offenders, who are trying to get their life back on track and are struggling to fight addictions and situations
* for our friend trying to work full time and care for a mother and brother who are both dying of cancer, running to another state every week trying to make sure they spend all the time together they can before it's too late
* for our friends who have experienced great losses this year of family and people special to them in their lives for many different reasons
* for the people we have met this year who have lost someone to suicide
* for our daughter and her husband who just had her third child - with two boys already only 3 and 4 1/2
* for our son-in-law currently stationed in South Korea for a term and not able to be home with family this year, away from his wife who could not go with him for this year term, working our country

This holiday has definitely been about intention. It's been about spending time on the things that matter most to us. So even though the cards and notes may not get mailed until January, it's OK. Even though there is still shopping we want to do and should do, we will find rest. Even though everyone may not understand us not having extended holiday hours this year, we understand it is so we don't over-stress our bodies and end up sick the month of January and it's so we can spend time with family and friends. Even though we are closing between Christmas and New Years except for one day, we will be grateful to be spending the time with family from out of town. Some of them we haven't seen in a year or two so do those last minute sales really matter that much?

As you read this, I ask that you also take pause and think about what kind of Holiday and last week before Christmas that you will be having. The cards really aren't important if they come with just a signature, especially if you haven't been able to make time or connect with that person all year. Trying to just have a gift for someone, and not thinking of the person you are buying it for, or making it for, doesn't matter. Making sure you attend every holiday party so no one is offended will just leave you tired and feeling lost. Decorating and cooking for many, many hours to have the perfect meal for everyone coming over is not where our time should be spent.

Instead focus that time on calling an old friend to see how they are. That's even better than a card if it's been awhile since you have shared life with them. Share homemade cookies with neighbors if you get too many for yourself from friends. Invite others over for a cup of coffee. Help someone run and errand who may have pain if they go out in the very cold weather we have been having. Remember with love those you know who have had a loss this year or life changing event and who may not be experiencing any joy at all this holiday season. You still have time to make your own Holiday of Intention.

Be Blessed,
Stacey

Sweet & Sassy Event

Hi everyone, I wanted to thank everyone who came out to our special Make & Take during the Shop Hop with Korin, owner of Sweet & Sassy stamps. We had about 70 people take advantage of the event and come join in the fun. The card was a beautiful sample of Korin's style and quality of her stamps. We are carrying several stamp sets of hers and can always order any additional ones we need to. Keep watching the blog for other photos and events to be posted and shared.

We'd love to have your feedback on anything you see on the blog or our website. Just email us at info@joysoflifescrapbooking.com.

Have a blessed day.
Stacey

Shop Hop Just Around the Corner

Things have been unbelievably crazy at the store lately. All the new CHA products ordered have been arriving and will continue to arrive over the next couple weeks. We have been busy preparing for the Shop Hop beginning October 7th - getting the make/take ready as well as trying to fill the walls. You have all been giving us some great feedback, ideas for classes and telling us what you like and don't like. Your opinions are making a difference, and we are hoping that we continue to be pleased with our various classes being offered, skill levels and also product availability. As we continue to expand and bring in new product, we hope that you'll join us soon for a crop or class as we all continue to get ready for the holidays which are coming way too quickly for me.

I hope you are enjoying the fall weather and beginning to think of pumpkins and other fun fall things. We continue to add new class ideas, so be sure to watch our calendar for upcoming classes and project ideas. We'll soon be loading our photos of the paper quilting there too.

Conventions are Almost Here

Where does the time go. It's so hard to believe that the Creating Keepsakes Convention is just around the corner and so is the summer Craft and Hobby Association Convention (CHA). Both of these mean a great time to be ordering new products and continuing to change over the inventory. We have been busy making samples of new product lines, creating stuff for our classes and also just having fun. We're beginning to review the new paper lines being released and are so excited about some of the things we are seeing. This month is full of sales at the store to help us clean out the old and bring in the new and we're excited to see you getting excited about this too. If you need some inspiration, or just a kick start with your scrapbooking, come in and see some of the samples we've been making. We hope to see you soon, but most importantly, hope that you are making memories with your families and friends this summer. Keep scrappin'!
Stacey

Summer Fun Time is Here

I couldn't wait for summer to come this year. I don't know why - maybe it's looking forward to the time with the grandkids, maybe it's more about not liking to be cold muhc, but I couldn't wait.

Spring gave me the "bug" to get out and enjoy the warmer weather but being able to go to Hershey Gardens and other places in the heat has been a joy. I've been to Lake Tobias, Tennessee, Maine, Ocena City. the pictures have been great and I've been so excited I've even scrapped some of them already. We're continuing to do the Mosaic classes every month which are a blast. So far, so good - I'm sticking to my plan of at least one/month for 2010.

I've been doing lots of samples and classes and the store is a buzz! We hope you'll stop in and see us soon.

Don't forget our upcoming Yard sale August 13-14th. See our calendar for more details.

Be a blessing to someone today!

National Scrapbook Day is coming...

We are so excited here at the store as we get ready for National Scrapbook Day. We are putting the finishing touches on all the activities planned and we have 24 people joining us for a fun-filled weekend of cropping, eating and spending time together. This is when friendships are built and enriched. I wish everyone could be here with us, but we would for sure need a larger place.

This is from an email I received this morning and it was such a poignant reminder of why scrapbooking is important. I pray that this will touch you as it did me and hope that you can take some time this weekend, or everyone once in a while to do what you love.

"Moments. There are moments in life that define us. Some of them are really big moments...falling in love...the birth of a child...graduating from school. These moments we know are big moments when they occur.

But there are also moments that seem little at the time...but turn out to be a big defining moment...we just didn't know it yet.

But all the moments of our lives...and the memories of those moments...are like boats floating in the water. Some are rowboats, some cruise ships, but most of them will float away off course unless they are anchored.

So how do we "anchor" those memories so they don't float away into the recesses of our mind? Scrapbooking, of course!

This Saturday is National Scrapbook Day. Every year at this time I take it as my duty to remind people to "anchor" their memories through scrapbooking. And every year at this time I also take it as my duty to remind everyone that there are lots of ways to scrapbook. Not everyone scrapbooks in the same way and however you choose to preserve your memories is what is right for you. What's important is that you do it! :-)

Oh, and take pictures. LOTS of pictures. Because you never know which of those little moments ends up being a big moment and you want to make sure you recorded it!

I hope you spend part of your Saturday making some new memories (and anchoring them) or reliving some old ones by scrapbooking them. And whatever your scrapbooking supplies needs are for those memories, we've got you covered!"

(Thanks Julie for these touching and meaningful words.)

Here it comes!

Well, we are only a week away from our anniversary. This year has just flown by and I am amazed as I sit and look at all the projects we have done in the last year, as well as all the people I've had the privilege of meeting. This place has been my lifeline and I have never been happy with the work I'm doing and the people sharing in my life.

Activities have been busy getting things ready at the store for the sale next week - getting in new items still coming in from CHA show in January and preparing for all the details needed to have a successful weekend. We have several surprises in store for you, so you'll want to stop in the store next Thursday - Saturday to enjoy the make and take card and snacks - and most importantly the SALE!

Hope to see you soon. I'm attaching a photo from one of the faith layouts we did to give you some inspiration for some of those zoo pictures since we are getting to that time of year. The classes are filling up quickly and we are having a ball creating, creating creating and sharing those ideas with you.

Thanks for all you do for me and the store and the support you give us. We wouldn't be here without each of you guys.
Stacey

It's Been Too Long...

I'm sorry everyone that it's been so long since I did a post. I get caught up in the samples for the store and classes and the newsletter and this is on my calendar for once/week but it just get moves in the priority listing. But I have been reading the magazine called Artful Blogging and it has been a wonderful inspiration to me to get back to it. I can't make any promises other than I will be making a concerted effort to continue to load new samples as products as often as I can. I've also been getting some information from a woman out of Australia that I love her ideas and samples and blog - so I'm hoping to expand mine and add things I haven't done before. I could end up knowing too much one day.

Today's new layout sample was created using the fun flower embellishments from Creative Charms. The flower petals are made from those rubber band elastic things you would use in a ponytail, but by adding a bright and fancy brad to the center - it just makes you want to use them. This layout was done the very day I got the embellishments from them I was so excited. They sent a sample for how to use the product and I varied it a little - but it so easily captures the everyday photos we all have and don't know how to use. Visit the store to see more of the great embellishments and ideas from this small company out of western PA.

Blessings - and thanks for sticking with me.
Stacey

Winter Wonderland

It's been a crazy month at the store since my last post - everyone getting ready for the holidays, shopping, making last minute gifts and sharing time with each other. Classes for the last month have been sold out as have crops with people making time to finish up their gifts.

As the winter storm came in this past weekend, it reminded us, me especially, to take time for the quiet moments, the time with family. It's all so much more important than the errands, the gifts, the shopping we need to do. Saturday I decided to close the store with the weather being bad. My husband has been home sick, we have family coming to our house Thursday, including our daughter and her husband from Las Vegas, and we hadn't had time to prepare our home for the guests. It wasn't about having to put up a tree, its was, for me, about setting the environment. I like putting up a tree and always did with my parents when they were still around - this is special to me. So hubby and I hunkered in for the blizzard, slowly putting up our tree, doing some baking, and laying around watching movies, just catching up on our lives and 2009. Sunday we went out for a long drive in the snow and took pictures and leisured through the day, stopping for lunch, then home for more baking. It was something we could do together and share our weekend together. We haven't been able to do that in a very long time.

So I thanked God for the snowstorm! Even though I may have missed some business, and missed seeing some of you all; I was where I needed to be with my sick husband, making our home cozy and inviting for our family coming this week. I will be closed Christmas Eve since that is the day our family celebrates together before everyone has to go their own way. It will be a day of eating, playing games, napping, talking, looking at scrapbooks and sharing our year together.

I pray you all have a blessed and peaceful Merry Christmas. For those of you having lost someone this year, it will be especially hard for you. But you will be in my thoughts and prayers. I will be empathizing with you as I still grieve the time not being able to spend with my own parents, gone for several years now; or with our kids who can't be with us this year - our son in Las Vegas working and our other daughter/husband and 2 grandbabies in Tennessee; also my sister and her family in Oregon and Scott's other brother and nephew in Montana.

May Christ pour out his love and blessing to each of you,
Stacey