Well that was confusing . . .

I've decided that I have a real knack for making something simple complicated! I re-read my blog again this morning (after receiving several e-mails) and realized it sounded very much like the Feb. sign up was over. That, of course, is not the case. So here are the things you need to know to get started on the 1st.!

* if you signed up for the invitation newsletter (the link under the home page photos on the website), you will receive an e-mail on the 31st just reminding you that you will officially be able to purchase the kits beginning at 12 a.m. that night (which is officially Feb. 1st). You do not have to have signed up for the newsletter (and thus received the e-mail) to actually sign up for the kits. Just go by the site on Feb. 1st and sign up!

*Once the kits are sold out, you will see notice of this on the purchase page and you will be given the option to sign up for membership anyway in order to reserve the next three months. You will not be billed until the 5th of March for that kit in this case.

* We really do have a ton of kits. I suppose what I was trying to say was that in relationship to the number of people signed up for the newsletter reminder, we just don't know what to expect come the first.

*one last thing. . . we will most likely have to have a flat rate shipping price (based on what you order) for this first month. We are still investigating this further, but it really looks like we need to have our own shopping cart in order to do the specific calculations we would like to. Expect this to be between $5 or $7 depending on what you order. International will be different of course. You will be able to see this before you purchase at checkout.

All of the pictures/info. should be up on the site by Monday so you can go by and take a look before the first. The purchase buttons will not work, however, until 12:00 a.m. Central Time on Feb. 1st!

I will post again tomorrow before I head out to CHA! Thanks so much for everyone's patience with this (and for the kind e-mails, even though I am big goober)! I have really enjoyed getting to "know" many of you through this blog. And to think I didn't even know what a blog was before the last few months!

This is the part where I say . . .

making a guess (and thats really what it was, I won't even say it was educated!) as to how many kits to prepare for was really tough, and it appears, very much under-estimated. I re-ordered 3 times based on the response we were getting to the newsletter sign up - all up until the last possible minute that I could. (And I must say, I worked with some great vendors who really helped me to sort through everything). So my reason for saying this is 2 fold . . .

*we are really sorry if anyone wanting these kits is unable to purchase one

*the good news is we will be able to meet the demand in March

*sorry I said we "are confident we can meet the demand". I could not have anticipated the sign ups we have had in the past week.

*remember to consider signing up as a member as this will guarantee you a kit each month (see the website for the terms)

*March is going to be a really cool theme. I just bought an outfit to match the color scheme (sick and twisted I know)

Okay, so that was "5" fold, but I never know when to stop.

And by the way, have you learned yet that when I say "more tomorrow" that really means the day after?

And, speaking of March, here is a tiny little preview to get your creative juices flowing . . .

More tomorrow! . . . (pretend you see me smiling because I don't know how to insert the little smile guy here)!

Just for fun . . .

I have some things to share with you about the website tomorrow, but for today, here is a layout I just finished for the Li'l Davis booth at CHA. Check out the new chipboard and glitter flower!

This also reminded me that I needed some help!! I really need a wide-body scanner. Does anyone have any information they could pass my way? Any good ones out there that are hopefully affordable??? (many of them are over $1000). Help please!

Have a great evening!

February's Project Kit!

Okay, so here are the photos of this month's project kit. This kit will come with everything you need to complete the projects shown (and some)! I had the chipboard hearts made especially for me - you can only get them in this kit! The website currently says that you will receive printed instructions with this. This will change, however, as we are going to have the instructions and colors photo's available on-line now. This will allow me to provide more color photos (and much bigger) than full color instruction sheets would. It also keeps the cost down.

Here is the specific list of what you get:

Each Project Kit Contains:

- (8) 12 x 12 sheets of coordinating pattern papers from Making Memories and 7gypsies
- (1) custom printed word sheet
- (?) exclusive 6 inch Chipboard Hearts
- (?) exclusive 4 inch Chipboard Hearts
- (1) yard of vintage seam binding in “blush”
- (1) yard of silver tinsel trim
- (1) yard of tiny pink rick rack
- (1) yard of tiny red rick rack
- (1) silver tin filled with the following items:
o vintage Mother-Of-Pearl buttons
o (1) vintage Dennison brand label (style could vary)
o crystal acrylic rhinestones
o red wire twisties
o tiny gold crown
o tiny cream flowers

Kit Cost - $16.50

I have a question mark for the hearts because I am trying to add more, but you will at LEAST get 8 hearts total! We have been so overwhelmed and humbled by the newsletter sign up, and, we are excited, anxious and nervous (like some of you are!) about the 1st. We have added to the amount of kits we are ordering for 3 times and feel confident that we can meet the demand. Of course we could not assume that everyone signing up for the newsletter would actually purchase, but we feel like we have made a good educated guess as to the amount to prepare for. We will, of course, do everything we can to assure everything runs smoothly!

Remember, if you are going to CHA, be sure to send me a note by Friday through the contact link on the website with your e-mail, name, and which/both kits you want to sign up for. We will send an e-mail out to this list on Friday with more information.

A couple other things . . . I have SOOO enjoyed reading all of the comments here and visiting your blogs! (yes, I'm a lurker)! So much talent out there and so many cool women! Several of you asked about the heart pins in the pictures for the Papercrafting Kit. These pins are from Joanns Etc. They were in a bin of "notions" that was near the ribbon in my store. I tried to include the Heidi Grace Heart Pins in this kit, but they will not be available until mid February so I was bummed! If you can find these later, they would compliment this kit well!

More tomorrow!! Have a great night!

The official unveiling!

All of the kit photos have been taken, information typed up, and sent over to our web designer. I am going to share most of the information here with you (that you will see up on the site in a few days). Here is some basic information that I have been asked ( you will see even more details on these subjects in the FAQ section in a couple of days).

1. - We are shipping internationally. The Paypal checkout will convert the dollars and automatically calculate the shipping.

2. - You do not have to have a PayPal account to pay. (you just choose to checkout without an account and enter your credit card information). If you do not want to use a credit card, you can set up an account that will come out of your back account, like a check. No other forms of payment are accepted currently. This is such an easy and very secure way to do this. Plus, this will calculate the exact shipping and will keep those costs down.

3. -Many of you have asked about a Design Team. For right now, the gallery is set up to have a section by me and a section by a guest designer (and some other surprises). I am going to run a contest, however, for the guest designer spot so stay tuned!

4. - Now, the fun stuff! See the photos and info. below on the Papercrafting kit:

The Monthly Papercrafting Kit:

This kit is offered on a membership basis (see earlier post) or on a monthly basis. When it sells out, it will not be re-ordered. Each month will have a different theme and that will be supported by an on-line gallery the goes active after the kits have shipped. The gallery is only open to kit purchasers (but the Feb. gallery will be open to all as a special preview). You can see more info. on this at the website now. So here are the photos of the February kit and the specific product list of what it includes:

Each Papercrafting Kit Contains:

- (7) 12 x 12 sheets of double sided coordinating pattern papers from SEI, American Crafts and Scenic Route
- (3) 12 x 12 sheets of Bazzill textured cardstock
- (1) sheet of red vinyl Li'l Davis Architect Letter and Number Stickers
- (1) package of Making Memories Cardstock Valentines Tags
- (1) Heidi Swapp Mega Letter "X"
- (1) Heidi Swapp Mega Letter "O"
- (1) sheet of Heidi Swapp White Butterfly Tags
- (1) package of Heidi Swapp Schizophrenic Raw Chipboard Letters
- (1) package of Heidi Swapp Ledger 2 Journaling Spots
- (1) package of Heidi Swapp Chipboard Ornament Hearts
- (1) scalloped pink circle note card
- (1) yard of ¼" pink and white striped ribbon
- (1) yard of ¼" deep red silk ribbon
- (1) small bag of crystal ultra-fine glass glitter (not for children)
- (1) silver tin filled with the following items:
o (2) Li'l Davis Valentines binder clips
o Pink tiny safety pins
o Red tiny safety pins
o (1) 2-hole red bookplate
o 7gypsies Red Arrow photo turns
o Red and pink swirled sequins
o Embossed heart sequins
o Red and blush colored acrylic rhinestones

Member Price: $27.45
Monthly Price: $29.95

There will also be a Project kit each month which is centered around a specific project(s). These will range in price (and therefore are not available for membership rates) and styles (layouts, mini-books, etc.) You will recieve the pieces needed to produce the specific projects (which will be available to you for download once purchased). More about this one on Monday with a preview!!

Those of you who will be attending CHA: send me a note through the contact link on the website by this Friday, the 27th. Be sure to include your e-mail and which kit (or both) that you would like to register for on the 1st. I will make a list and send you a note that Friday about how to do so. Thanks so much for your e-mails!

Think that's all for now (isn't that enough)? Oh, and yes, the guest designer for Feb. is Faye Morrow Bell. Doesn't Tyler look just like her?

Okay, so this isn't me (I bet you couldn't figure that out)! Any guesses??

She is one of my dear friends (and a GREAT listener)

She is the perfect example of southern charm

She is VERY talented and has a strong interest in typography

She has a little girl who looks suspiciously like this photo, AND

She is my guest designer this month

I am soooo excited to have her!

Glamour Shot

Isn't she lovely?? You will get this sweet tin filled with what you see here (arrow photo turns, blush and red rhinestones, printed binder clips, a red bookplate, 1/4" (my new favorite size) pink striped ribbon and deep red silk ribbon, AND these awesome swirly sequins (and super cool embossed heart sequins that you can't see in the photo). This comes with the Papercrafting Kit.

I have been spending some time taking photos today for the website (getting ready for the big day)! I am going to try and post something everyday (or two) until the first. The photos, info. etc, will be up on the website before the 1st so that you can understand the payment process, membership information, see exactly what your getting, etc. I'm just not sure which day that will be yet. I will keep you posted here. AND . . . I will leak much of the information right here as well!

We have set up the process to be very simple and straight forward (we think)! There is a membership price and a monthly price. Plain and simple, right? The Monthly Papercrafting Kit will be available on a membership basis for $27.45. All this means is that you agree to purchase 3 consecutive months of kits at this price (and therefore are guaranteed a kit for each of these months). If you do not want to commit to the three months, than you can just purchase the kit for that month at $29.95. These kits will only be offered until they sell out.

The Monthly Project Kit will only be available at a monthly rate because the price will vary from month to month. This month's kit will be $16.50. You can add this to your Papercrafting kit at checkout (or to your subscription before its billed) and not pay any extra shipping. We plan to keep the Project Kits in stock and archived until products are no longer available. They may sell out initially but we will make every effort to re-stock them immediately.

Much more to come this week. Details, details, details!

P.S. - many of the local girls asked where I antique (or for ebay contacts). I love the Franklin area - Heritage Antique Mall is a good one. I got the black table in my office there. As far as ebay goes, I have never noticed one particular buyer. I always do searches for key words (like apothecary jars). The key, unfortunately, is to be there everyday. That is really how you come across the cool stuff!

"Old School"

I'm sitting here listening to some Old School Peter Gabriel ("In Your Eyes"), munching on a truly Old School snack from back in the day (Cheez Its), updating this blog so that I can run and play an Old School game of Mouse Trap with the boys.

(Just a REALLY quick one using Michelle Baker's Urban Camo line for LD. For the booth at CHA)

Look what I got!!

The mailman brought this to me today! It was my latest ebay purchase. It is an old receipt holder from a country store. It actually has metal pages and weighs a good 10 pounds. I thought I could use it to store embellishments but its way too heavy to use on a daily basis. So, I am going to use it to display photos and keep it open like this (and use it as a prop for the website). This was a very cool find!

And. . . I took the photo below of all the things I found when I went to my favorite antique store on Wednesday. I literally ran in for 20 minutes and scored big time! The wire "basket" holding everything is actually an old casserole carrier (the zippered modern day Pyrex one's just don't have the same charm). It was $6 and will hold my mail. Otherwise, I brought home a couple cheap silver pieces, a very cool glass (for sugar?) cup with silver etching and an AWESOME find for a future project kit I have in mind (the spools of antique ribbon stacked along the bottom). I actually plan to do a page around this photo!

So I thought I would show all of this today in celebration of the fact that I decided to add a feature to the gallery each month: Studio Inspiration. Each month, along with all of the other monthly features (I have been promising to share that haven't I?) you will get one fun display or organizational idea direct from my place of inspiration. Have I ever told you how important I think this is? Really - it is a huge passion of mine! I am so fortunate to have the space that I do now, but I certainly did not always have that. It doesn't matter if you are in a closet, the corner of your bedroom, or in your own private loft. There are things you can do to creatively organize your space for both function and inspiration. More to come.

I'm so excited - have I said that yet?

I was tagged by Loni and Donna - so I guess I better do this right away!!

Four jobs you have had in your life:

1. Mail Packing - (you know, where you get paid by the piece? My neighbor did this when I was growing up and she would give me a few hundred to do here and there)
2. Adventure World - now a 6 Flags outside of D.C. I was a group sales representative in summers during college.
3. Media Buyer- for Buntin Advertising in Nashville
4. Creative Director - for Li'l Davis until 12/30/05. Still consulting.

Four movies you would watch over and over:

1. Christmas Vacation -(I can quote just about anything from the movie)
2. Wedding Crashers - (crude at times, but hilarious)
3. Silence of the Lambs
4. 2 Weeks Notice

Four places you have lived:

1. Charlotte Hall, MD
2. Dunkirk, MD
3. Smyrna, TN
4. Mt. Juliet, TN

Four TV shows you love to watch:

1. I SERIOUSLY rarely watch television. We watch DVD's if we sit down at night to watch.

Four places you have been on vacation:

1. Florida
2. Arizona
3. Chicago
4. St. Lucia

Four websites I visit daily:

1. Ebay
2. www.jennibowlin.com (just checking it out - is it really mine?!)
3. Other Blogs
4. 2Peas (at least once a week)

Four of my favorite foods:

1. Pizza (ESPECIALLY Ledo's pizza in Southern MD)
2. Good Ranch Dressing
3. Ice Cream
4. Tuna Fish

Four places I would rather be right now:

1. Antiquing
2. Destin
3. Pottery Barn
4. Scrap It!

Four bloggers I am tagging:

1. Kelli Crowe
2. Jamie Waters
3. Tracy Miller
4. Sherri Vonlobstien
   

Resolutions . . .

I do not like working out. The thought of getting in the car and heading to the gym never thrills me. Part of the reason is that I really don't like tennis shoes. I'm really more of a flip flop girl. Mostly because I don't have the patience to find socks (something else I dislike) nor do I have the patience to sit down and tie a pair of shoes. But . . .here I am again in January making the same resolution - to stick with it longer than 7 months (traditionally I throw in the towel when swimsuit season is over)!

My other big resolution? To not just have good intentions but to act on them. I can't tell you how many times I think about sending a card or making a phone call but it just doesn't happen. I REALLY want to be better about that.

Just wondering if you have been thinking about resolutions for the new year!

I spent some time making final orders today and arranging for an exclusive "piece" to be a part of the project kit for Feb. I can't wait to share everything with you! I at first was planning to add all of the photos to the website by Sunday, but I'm going to stretch that out until the 20th. So, on the 20th, you will be able to go to the site and see the images and details of both the papercrafting kit and project kit. I will post some more details here though, (like prices, etc.) in the next couple of days. I also have a solution for those of you who will be at CHAW on the 1st and want to make sure you get a/both kits!

Happy Tuesday!!

We have a winner (I mean three winners)!!

I changed my "picking" strategy a little bit when I reached 108 comments (THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU)! Just didn't feel like wading up 108 little pieces of paper! So . . . I enlisted the help of the 7 year old and told him to pick a number from 1-108 (three times). So, comments number 1, 50 and 70 win! (yep, you can tell he is in first grade. He thinks in 10's). Those ladies are Sabrina, Cari Skuse, and Jenn Bertsch!!! If you go guys can send me your address through "contact us" on the website, I will get your monogram packs out to you this week! Also let me know if you want the first of last letters of your name (or another letter all together) .

Thank you so much for all of the great comments. I have a lot to think about -many things that I had not thought of before. I will let you know how this progresses!

In the meantime, here is a BIG papercrafting kit hint:

EVERYTHING you see on this page comes with the kit (except for the rubber stamp image - it is from Danelle Johnson and is available through Limited Edition Rubber Stamps).

The "sugar coated" heart will be February's highlighted technique. This layout will be a part of my gallery for the month.

Hope you enjoy! (sorry for the slight blur-I was in a hurry and didn't take the time to set up the tripod)

A Fun Little Giveaway . . .

Okay, so I need some feedback - and who better to give it to me than you guys! I am really trying to plan/organize/concept my on-line classes. This is really a very new thing and I want to know what you think. Do you need/want to see video (this scares me- did you see me on DIY)!? Is audio cool for you? I want to be "me" which means that the projects will be more technique oriented and probably intermediate to advanced (so that part is pretty much decided) Did you have a great experience with this? A not so great one? Anything???? I'd love to hear what you have to say!

And to sweeten the deal . . .I have tons of various styles of vintage letters lying around (metal sign letters, tiny metal letters, large plastic letters, letter tiles,etc. - all flat and ready for your scrapbook). A customized monogram set awaits 3 lucky winners! On Sunday I will draw three numbers from a hat (don't worry, I'm really honest- somebody give me a testimony!) and I will pull the names of the posts that coordinate with those numbers. Sound good? I will post the winners here.

Can't wait to hear what you have to say!

Also - lots of people asked about the Welcome Sign (I promise to be better about listing info. like that). It is from Wendy Addison (for Seasons of Canyon Falls) and I found mine on Ebay. I think they come in Gold or Silver.

Happy Friday! (It's "Pizza and Family Movie Night" at my house)

Finally getting back into the swing of things! Got the Xmas decorations down today and organized toys. Now its on to my studio . . .!

Speaking of which, here is the Welcome Sign I just ordered for the door. I think the silver glitter is here to stay for me (even after Christmas). I even bought conversation heart ornaments at Marshalls for my Tinsel Tree (just so I could keep it around a little longer)!

Here are a couple of "photo" hints for the February Kits. These old MOP will be a part of the Project Kit:

And, this "sweet" stuff (don't worry, its not sugar) is a part of the Papercrafting Kit:

And. . . the background gives you a little hint as to the color scheme as well!

I am off to cook dinner for the little ones. As for me, I am having left-over Baked Potato soup from Panera Bread. It is my new tradition to buy a quart of it on Monday's to keep me well fed through the week. Just in case you wanted to know, they only serve it on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays! In fact, here's a funny story:

The Monday before Christmas I sent my husband there on the way home from work (we just got a brand new one near our house) to pick me up a bowl. He called me on his cell phone when he got there to tell me that Baked Potato was not listed on the menu for the day. I quickly told him that he needed to inform the "new" employees of what day it was (shouldn't they know these things, geeesh). I listened as they told him that they had run out and had taken it off of the menu, but. . . they were expecting a truck any minute. Even though I whined, he wouldn't wait around (the nerve of him), so Broccoli and Cheese it was (which, by the way, is good, but not as good as the Baked Potato)!

Happy Wednesday!!

A New Obsession Begins . . .

Noah has been playing (and beating) gameboy and playstation games since he was 4. I have often threatened to enter him into one of those gaming competitions in the hopes that maybe he can get his higher education paid for (we are pretty sure there won't be any sports scholarships coming his way)! So it seemed only natural to him to buy Christian a gameboy game (and give him his old gameboy) for Christmas this year since he was 4. Truth is he would rather drive a real monster truck than to pretend to, but for now, he is into it just because his older brother thinks its cool!!

We are finally back in town (nice to sleep in my own bed last night)! I am sitting here amidst numerous bags from IKEA (got to make a trip to College Park when I was in MD) that are supposed to be motivating me to re-organize. I'm hoping to get to that tomorrow. Motivating me more is the new "Welcome" sign I got for my office door. I will post a photo of it tomorrow - I am so in love with it!!

I am overwhelmed by the response I've had to the newsletter sign up - REALLY! I am hoping to get a bunch of photos taken tomorrow and Wednesday so I can start posting some better hints (photos are just more fun)!

Happy Tuesday!

Newsletter sign-up problem!!!

Well, when I checked the site last night the link to sign up for the newsletter was working (which is why it appears some of you were able to get through). At some point after that, it started to give an error message (as many of you experienced). We are working on getting it fixed, but in the meantime . . .

You can send a note through the contact page (just put newsletter as your comment) and I will get you signed up. Many of you did this already - thanks!!

Or, if you left me a note on the blog, I will get you signed up too.

I will finally be back in town tomorrow- and hopefully in the swing of things more. I promise to post more photos this week.

The photo I posted here (and on the website) of the heart is actually part of the Project Kit for February (Not the subscription, Papercrafting Kit). Just thought I would clarify that for you. I haven't posted any hints (photos anyway) of the Papercrafting Kit.

Thanks so much for all of the comments and for the interest!! I am REALLY excited about seeing this develop and being able to form a community of people who love the same things I do - that is just so cool!!