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

Baby It's Cold Outside

It's hard to believe we are only two weeks away from Thanksgiving. The weather was nice the last couple weeks but boy has sure turned colder since yesterday. We have been busy getting in new paper lines and working on projects for upcoming classes. The planning has begun for Black Friday sales and also Christmas sales. We have begun the Wish Lists for you to have record for your family and friends and gift certifcates are beginning to sell rapidly for the holidays. I'm amazed at how many people have already finished their Christmas shopping or have started.

I keep the gifts light, making handmade ones or gift cards for the kids seems best since they are all now grown. We have just completed the Winter Acrylic album. Its made from a clear camera album (of course I'd choose a camera) and it was made using out newest lines of paper from Bo Bunny that arrived late last week. No time was wasted when the paper came in since I loved it so much. I will have a photo up and available soon, but it is int he shop if you'd like to stop and see it.

Stop by and see the other new paper lines and items that we have been receiving in preparation for the holidays. We still have a few spots left for our Black Friday crop too - so call to reserve your spot if you arr interested. Thanks for following us on the Blog!

Buggies and Bon Bons Shop Hop Review

We had a great time during the first annual Shop Hop held last month. There were alot of new friendships made, and fun had by all. People shopped, did make and takes, ate chocolate and shared many stories. We have added a page to our website with all the photos we took and have been receiving from everyone's day out at the shop.

Because the Shop Hop was such a huge success, we've ordered a number of new paper lines, embellishments and all sorts of mini albums and items in preparation for the holidays. The inventory has been coming in since last Monday and will continue through at least this week. We have some new storage items for stamps and embellishments and are beginning our wish lists for the holiday season.

Stop in to see what's new and how things have been going at the store. Hope to see you soon.

Stacey

So Many Samples, So Little Time

We are actively preparing for the Shop Hop which begins in two weeks. It's hard to believe it's finally here after so many months of planning. Fiskars is supporting the event and will be traveling to several of the stores doing make-n-take samples as well as giveaways and lots of tool demos. We are anticipating many new customers through the event, as well as seeing some of you that we don't get to see on a regular basis. We only have a few key chains and passports left to sell, so if you are interested, don't delay in stopping in to get yours today.

I have been playing with the new product that has been arriving. The above layout was made with the new Eskimo Kisses paper from Basic Grey. I'm glad I didn't follow my first instinct when I saw the paper and not get it in. At first I thought it was too kid oriented and cute for the customer base we have here, but I have found that the papers compliment each other wonderfully and there are several really pretty prints outside the couple of whimsical papers. I have also made several cards with the line and have fallen in love with the way Basic Grey has done it again with one of their releases.

Be sure to stop in and see all the new product arriving. This week we also got in some great paper with turtles and frogs from Boxer. We are anticipating receiving another Basic Grey line in the next couple weeks which was also a release at the national trade show. We are also still waiting on new product from Little Yellow Bicycle and Bazzill.

Enjoy your weekend and be sure to stop in and see us soon, and all the samples we've been making.

Stacey

Upcoming Buggies & Bon-Bons Shop Hop

Activities have been moving along rapidly for the planning stages of the Shop Hop we will be having in October with other stores in the area. The passports were finally going to the printer on Friday as well as the key chains. They told us they should have them ready this coming week. The keychains won't be here for a probably another week because they are being shipped. We have created our make and takes for the event and we are so excited about them. Those people participating the in the Shop Hop will be able to choose one of the layouts shown with a fall or winter theme. Some days you will be able to do the Make n Take at the store, other times because of classes, they may need to be taken with you and completed at home. Either way, I'm sure you will love the layouts and hopefully it will get your creative juices flowing.

We have sold over half of our available passports and key chains, so if you are still thinking about the event and trying to work out schedules - don't wait too much longer. they are going fast. between all the stores we have sold about 80 tickets so far to the event from as far south as North Carolina and as far west as Ohio. There will be all kinds of give-aways at the local stores as well as a list of national prizes to enter and try to win. Be sure to stop in the store to find out more about choosing us as your "home store" and how to get started.

As a special bonus, we will have Rebecca from Fiskars in our store on Friday, October 16th. She will be doing her own Make-n-Takes besides the one we are offering. There are also dorr prizes and give aways for this event. Why not take the day off work with your girlfriends and make this place the start of your tour day!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Stacey