A Couple of Reminders...

Tomorrow night at 7pm a class designed by the very talented Wendy Jones to make a beautiful little family gift album using Heidi Grace vineyard product. This picture is obviously only of the front cover, the inside is decorated beautifully as well. This would make a perfect christmas gift or make it just for yourself. Contact the store for details.

Also there is less than a week to get those design team entries in to me. Friday 31st of August at midnight is the deadline and the details are here

Sounds like a great time was had by all for the all day crop on Saturday. Check out Megan's blog for pics, and also check out her details about the upcoming cropfest which sounds soooo exciting! Will keep you posted for that...might need to get some new pjs especially for the occasion ;o)

Warning!

This may be a long one...lots to share.

First new products in store...

Mimi collection totes - these are so stylish and practical...I have my eye on one to organise my favourite stamps into - perfect for taking cropping. Here is a pic I took of the Urban Stamp Tote open:

Check out all that storage! There is also a tool tote...

Scrap Tote
And scrapbook tote

There is a restock of all the Crafter's workshop doodle templates plus some new ones, with gorgeous names like "Regal Flourish" "Scallop Swirls" and "Swirly Vines". Ask them to show you when you are next in the store Wendy's canvases where she has put texture paste through them.

My personal favourite? That would have to be the Doodleflower:

For the beginning scrappers out there and those wishing to get pages "Finished in a Flash" there are new products in store from Hot off the Press called just that. They include everything you need to create a birthday page, page about your favourite girl, your dog etc. Each has 12 coordinating 12" x 12" papers, plus cardstock die-cuts, Brad Buddies, 36" of 3 different ribbons, mini round brads, standard round brads and fun shaped brads. Everything you need in one place. Here's the dog one...how cute is it?

And for card makers, also from HOTP are booklets of cardstock weight stickers for your cards entitled "Instant Card Art" and coordinating embellishment kits "Creative Kits". The instant card art booklets contain 148 diecuts with several card themes and come in different colourways. Check out the Citrus one:

And here is the matching Citrus creative kit:


Yummy colours eh?!

And exciting news! Basic Grey Infuse has arrived...BG can describe it so much better than me "Custom brewed from only the finest ingredients, the infuse collection is saturated in a full-bodied colour blend of garden green, hibiscus pink and coffee bean brown" it really is delicious!

Also in stock from BG is the file set which is perfect for getting into all those little nooks and crannies when you are covering chipboard and want to sand the edges, and also perfect for distressing.

And magnetic snaps and buckles. The buckles are fantastic threaded onto ribbon ends and used to keep mini albums closed. The snaps are thin as cardstock, but surprisingly stong, and are a perfect closure for cards, journaling pieces in albums and so much more!

Phew! getting there loyal readers lol! Hmmm what other delights? How about the Woodstock Black and White collection. Now these are very cool transparent elements for your pages, tags, slide mounts and CD envelopes with various themed words on them. And there are some gorgeous samples in store of how to use them.

Now I have to share with you something I have purchased lately that is so cool and I so love...and that is the range of new xyron adhesives. There are glue spots - large and small, and there is mounting tape, repositionable and permanent tape that is great to use for vellum or transparencies, magnetic tape, photo corners and photo splits and best of all they come in really funky looking coloured containers that clip together, so you can just pick up the lot when you need them. Here check out my personal stash lol!

They just make me happy looking at them, never mind using them ;O)And I must also give a thumbs up to the xyron adhesive eraser...have you got this essential item yet? Not only does it rub away those annoying little sticky bits of glue you get sometimes but they can also rub away rub ons that you have accidentally stuck down in the wrong place! Now you gotta love that!

Now on to other news, Megans' Layout of the Month Class is on Thursday night and not only do you get to create a layout, but a card too. This layout looks awesome and you get to use some exciting new product - very cool!Plus Faye and Megan are having another fun crop all day on Saturday (10am-10pm) and you get to make a card and a project. I'm going to pop my head in and check it out because a little bird tells me these crops are great fun!


Well that is all for now and if you are still with me you have amazing stamina lol!

More soon, Jo :O)

Mega Store Opening Celebrations continued.

Have you been down to check out the opening celebrations yet? Remember there are things happening all week. See my post below for details. I went down on Friday night and Saturday morning and let me tell you the place was pumping! And everything that was happening cost nothing to participate in. Here is a look at the talented Trina McClune's class for Fiskar's "Hole Lot of Loving" - gorgeous layouts were being created and the ladies were having so much fun learning new techniques with the Fiskar's tools. That is one noisy, fun, class and it is happening all over again on Wednesday and Saturday, and it is free! Have I stressed that enough lol!

Demo's were also going on in store of new products...here is the lovely Andrea demonstrating the Fiskar's stamp press, I love love love this tool...such a simple concept but so clever!

And people were able to have a play on the new Cricut Expressions - my fave new toy! Incidentally did you know you can use the Cricut to cut acetate - Fiona Newth the cricut and cuttlebug expert gave me a tip about cutting out a large box with a cute flower on top from acetate using the tags, bags and boxes cartridge and filling it with sweets - makes a gorgeous gift! Will share a pic when I have filled it so you can see what I mean.
Speaking of Fiona, here she is taking one of her free Cricut and Cuttlebug classes. I was lucky enough to be helping out with one of these on Friday night and I learned heaps of new tips. My favourite was the cutting out of felt accents using the Cuttlebug dies and then layering them up to create beautiful embellies for you pages. I am off out this morning to get some of those dies and will share a pic of the accents also when I have made them. Super cute Fiona!

And last but not least here is a pic of the very talented Ian Handricks. He is the resident photo restoration and genealogy expert. This guy is simply amazing - I spent half an hour in his company one day and came away in awe of his talent! Ask him to show you the stunning fairy photos or caricatures he can make using your photos or the fantastic restorations he can do. He is also the man to talk to if you are considering researching your family history. He is very approachable and will love to show you examples of his work.


Well that is about all for now...off to get my cuttlebug dies!

More to share soon
Jo :O)

Inspiration to share

If you haven't been down to the store lately (and I don't know why you wouldn't have been - there is such exciting things happening down there this week!) then you may not have seen all the inspiration that is displayed for you down there. Here are a few things that have been created recently.

This amazing canvas by Wendy Jones is to die for...I want to put it in my house! It is made to showcase all the different things you can do with chipboard lettering, but is a work of art in itself, my photography simply does not do it justice - you need to see it in the flesh - Stunning Wendy!!!

And while we are on the subject of Wendy check out this stunning "welcome pot" she made using the Heidi Grace range and inspired by an ad in the recent Creating Keepsakes...simply beautiful isn't it. Wendy's work always looks so deliciously tactile to me...I want to touch it!

Also using the Heidi Grace Vineyard range I made this layout...

And a canvas clock. Some interest has been shown in a class being created where you can make this clock. I will keep you posted as soon as I get the details sorted with Kathleen as to when it will be held.

Want some inspiration for father's day? Check out this card Megan Renfree made using Basic Grey and Little Davis products. It is sometimes difficult to get ideas for creating masculine cards and layouts...but Megan is awesome in this area.

And finally have you seen the coin folders in store and had no idea how they can be used? They are fabulous to decorate and use to showcase small photos - I have used one here as a keepsake to remind my daughter of her favourite things and her friends at age 11. Something I am sure she will find very interesting when she is older.

MEGA STORE OPENING CELEBRATIONS - Free Classes!!!

Yes you read that right! Due to the opening of the mega store we will be holding opening celebrations in store this Friday 10th August all week through till Saturday 18th August. Some great sponsors are supporting this event and include Fiskars, Cricut, Cuttlebug, GlueArts, Blooms,Pratley, Xyron, Peelcraft and more! Make sure you get down to the store at some stage during this exciting event as there will be prize draws, make ‘n takes, special promotions and of course some great free workshops such as:

Free Workshop - Cricut! Experienced users class: Free class with Cricut demonstrator Fiona Newth. Join in the fun with other Cricut owners and learn tips and tricks of this amazing machine. Great opportunity to have a try of the new Expressions machine and versatile Cuttlebug! 2 hour duration, no tools or materials needed. Bookings essential. Friday 10th August 7pm

Free Workshop - 'Hole lot of loving!': Taught by the amazing Trina McClune, in this Fiskars sponsored class you will create a single page layout featuring the Heidi Grace Vineyard range. 1 hour duration. Bookings essential. Saturday 11th August 11am and 12.30pm/Wednesday 15th August 7pm/Saturday 18th August 11am. Here is a sneaky peek of the project:

Free Workshop - Cricut & Cuttlebug exposed!: You've heard about these amazing machines - this is your chance to try! Demonstration/make 'n takes lead by Cricut demonstrator Fiona Newth. No bookings necessary, simply arrive during these times to join the fun. If you can't make those times, don't worry Cricut and Cuttlebug make 'n takes are happening all week long! Saturday 11th August from 11am - 1pm and 2pm - 4pm.

Free Workshop - Heritage Class and Genealogy: This week in keeping with our Opening Celebrations event the Heritage Class is FREE and all are welcome to attend. Genealogy expert and photo restorer Ian Handricks will be making a presentation, then to follow will be a fun project that you can use in your own Heritage Pages. You may wish to bring any challenging photos that you would like advice for. All welcome, bookings essential. Wednesday 15th August at 7pm

Free Workshop - All for Kids!: Kids love scrapbooking! This mini-workshop is a great chance for children aged 9 - 15 years to try scrapbooking. 1 hour duration. No bookings necessary Saturday 18th August at 3pm.

Next week there will also be a MEGA STORE GRAND OPENING EVENT CROP: Lead by Megan Renfree and Faye Gregory you can be sure of an evening of scrapbooking fun! Mini-project and a prize or two!Bring your current pages to work on and scrapbooking tools and materials.$15 fee. Friday 17th August 6pm until Midnight.

Make sure you remember to book in for those classes that state bookings essential because there are limited spaces.

Also during the open week new hours will kick in for the Link Drive Store. We are open 9am – 9pm 6 Days a week! Closed Sunday.

And the class calendar is now online, go and check it out.

By the way...some of you (like me) may not be receiving the store emails - this seems to be affecting xtra customers. If this is the case for you can you please email the store and let them know or pop a comment on this post, we are trying to sort out why this is happening.

More to share soon...Jo.

Lots to share...

Firstly new products in store from We R Memory Keepers.

1) Really beautiful leather post bound albums. These albums have a classic look and are available in sixteen different colours, here are just a few of the colours - gorgeous aren't they?!

2) Themed embossed cardstock stickers. There are several different themes available, but my favourite would have to be the tooth fairy ones - perfect for those pages about a child losing their first tooth. Or create a special treasure box for your little one to keep their letters from the tooth fairy in.
3) Now these are going fast so you will need to be quick...metallic rub ons! I can see why these are so popular, they would give a very elegant look to your page and are something a little different to the classic black or white rub on.

There are also restocks of all the Fiskars products in store, including some very cool clear stamps that I have my eye on ;O) and of course the stamp press which imo is just the best thing since sliced bread for those large clear stamps, and when you want to stamp several stamps at the same time and know exactly where they are going to end up on your page. Stay tuned for an exciting upcoming class featuring the clear stamps and the stamp press.

Now if you haven't been down to the store yet and seen the new Cricut Expression in action you are missing something special. Get Joanne to show you just what this baby can do. She showed me a couple of its cool features yesterday and yes, I will admit it, I succumbed to the lure of the cricut! It is now sitting proudly in its new home on my dining table lol! Oh the joy of being able to cut something out that will fit across an entire page...oh the rapture of being able to cut a photo into a shape exactly where you intended to cut! Believe me you will be seeing a lot of cricuting in my upcoming work, in fact I have a work in progress which I will share soon featuring the most gorgeous swirly doodle done in about five seconds flat by my new best friend cricut :O)

And speaking of sharing work...I have some news to share with you about someone who is now working with me on our design team...introducing our newest design team member...

MEGAN RENFREE! Yay! Welcome Megan. Megan has been a friend of NZ Scrapbook for a long time and we are delighted to have her on the team. She does beautiful work featuring clean lines and she rocks boy pages which I know some of you struggle with. Her linear style is the perfect complement I think to my somewhat haphazard one lol, so you are getting the best of both worlds in terms of inspiration. Here I will let her tell you a little about herself...

Hi there,

My scrapbooking journey began officially 7 years ago, just after the birth of my eldest son Connor when I was online searching for some letter stickers to decorate an album. Unofficially I think I have always scrapbooked and have always loved cutting up stuff and creating old fashioned scrapbooks when I have travelled. I can safely say that Scrapbooking is my passion.

I am married to Mark, and have two boys, Connor who is 7 and Riley who is 4. Most of my layouts feature them as I love to capture their lives through our photos. I have a shocking memory, so it’s great to be able to create pages of moments that have happened and then be able to go back to them at a later date and remember the memories all over again.

I also love the creative aspect of scrapbooking. I feel like I have always scrapbooked in some way, and I have several paper scrapbooks that I have made when I have travelled prior to discovering scrapbook products and "Acid Free". My style is very linear, I like to use sharp lines and you don’t often see a project of mine that doesn’t include lots of bright bold patterned paper, chipboard, paint, ribbon, rubons and plenty of kindy glitz.

Megan and I have already begun creating layouts and you can see a couple we have completed recently in store, but I will share them here with you too. Here is a layout Megan created using Basic Grey and Lil Davis products:


See what I mean about fantastic boy pages?! And here is one from me featuring Heidi Grace Vineyard papers and embellishments, and Queen and Co large sequins. Last but not least (still there loyal readers?) remember we are still looking for three new design team members and you have until the end of August to get your entries in to me. I will announce the design team shortly after that. Entries are starting to come in and I must say it is going to be very difficult to choose, I am seeing some gorgeous work...kiwi scrappers rock imo! If you need the details again go here. Looking forward to seeing your work.


That's all for now, chat soon.

Jo