Category Archives: new products and classes

2014

Do you Smash?

Hello! I was just wondering how many of you that have bought a smash book use it and what for? Some of you (well 1 person in particular) took 4 months to finally start smashing as the pages were too pretty to use. (You know who you are ) I have 2 smash books on the go for 2 very different things…

Pictures of Me
My first smash book (which I have named Pictures of Me) I have is for my kids in the future. I have used it a bit like a journal of my life. I didn’t know where to start and it would have taken me so long to find photos and put them in order so I didn’t. Any photos I find now from my past, I stick on a page and write about everything I remember about it. I find this a much easier way to lay down my stories than scrapping myself :). My Oma (grandmother) used to tell me stories of her photos and I loved hearing them. And you never know when something is going to happen – and its nice if the kids have something to remember me by in my own words. 

Our House

My 2nd smash book is all about our house we plan on building. We are still only at the “we own a block of land” stage but think we will be ready to start building early next year. We have already found the perfect plan, and now whenever I see colours, curtains, furniture etc I like I add it in to my book so I have something to refer back to when we need to start making choices. And he kids LOVE getting involved! They have already chosen their room colours. Its also a great place to start caculating the costs of everything involved.

Weddings and Babies
Did you know they have also released a beautiful Wedding Smash book? If I was getting married now (instead of 9 years ago) I would definately get one. I would use it the same way I use my house one. K&Co have also released a wonderful Baby book. It almost made me want another baby until a friend of mine pointed out we can still stick in all the baby photos / memories from our present kids – no need to have another one….so that will be my next project, 3 x smash baby books and then maybe I will still smash my wedding? Include story of how we met….why we got married where we did etc my mind is buzzing with ideas!
Are you smashing this weekend?

3 days till a day off…

Wow! What a busy couple of weeks it has been!
Straight after work on Saturday 30th June, Elisa and I drove down to Perth to catch the red eye to Melbourne. The lovely Clarinda picked us up from the airport and drove us in to the city to meet up with my sister and brother-in-law (who had flown down from Sydney to see us) for breakfast. After a bit of shopping (and playing with bubbles) we took them to the airport for their flight back home.

After a couple of hours rest at Clarinda’s house, we went to the Chocolate Rooms. (Yes I know – a dream come true for most of you!)

After a bit of over indulgence!

That night we went to bed VERY early after being up for nearly 36 hours. The next morning Clarinda and Elisa dropped me off at the Kaisercraft Head Office.
It was a wonderful day!
Kaisercraft really know how to look after their customers. I also met the wonderful Anita from Inspireme Crafts, as well as caught up with other shop owners I haven’t seen for a while.
The Graphic Designers explained to us how they come up with their ideas and why they choose certain elements. I loved hearing about their creative journeys.
After admiring all the new collections due in the coming months and morning tea, Brad took us to the wood workshop. We got to see first hand how all the BTP items are created. Love the smell of feshly cut wood 🙂
Then a quick shop in the massive warehouse! (the boxes of goodies I purchased have just arrived – some are normally only available in the outlets) and it was time for lunch.
After Lunch we took part in a workshop with Melissa Kennedy, Kylie Obst and Dani Kirvan. Very Talented ladies! we created a wooden tree frame, and 2 single page layouts using a new Men’s range due next month. These workshops were available to purchase as class kits for retailers who attended only. I’ll let you know when the kits arrive!
Unfortunately the day had to come to an end, and we all left with our full Goody bags and minds buzzing with creativity. I can’t wait till all the new releases arrive! Kaisercraft is also expanding their core range to include wrapping paper, more tools, albums, home decor and printed canvas’s.

I’m under strict instructions to not share online any of the photos until the release date, but if you would like to have a look at the awesome new releases come in and I can show you 🙂

Tuesday was our final day for a bit of shopping before flying back to Perth in the afternoon. We did a quick stop at the Carousel in Geelong (its over 200 years old!) and to see the famous bollards.

After an uneventful flight back, we drove up to Geraldton and arrived home at 1.30am – then back to school for Elisa in the morning and me back to work, On the weekend I drove up and down to Carnarvon twice to help my parents move….so can you imagine how excited I will be on Saturday afternoon when the shop closes? My first day off in over 2 weeks! I will be staying in my PJ’s the whole day 🙂

New In store….

We have oodles of new stock on our shelves, here is a sample of some of it…
* * * * * * * * * * *

The Sew Stamper is the solution for the crafter who loves the “sewn” look but dislikes sewing, and loves stamping but can’t find the right designs! The Sew Stamper combines the best of both worlds – sewn designs with a self-inking rubber rolling stamp! We have 10 different interchangeable heads to choose from in store.

* * * * * * * * * *
July kaiser Release:
Miss Match and Attitude.
 
Have a look at these layouts from the Kaiser Design team using the 2 new collections…
 

 
The full collection of papers, speciality papers, paper pads, stamps and embellishments now available in store. And as a BONUS – spend $40 on kaisercraft products this month and receive a FREE cardstock swatch. While stock lasts!
 
* * * * * * * * * * *
We have lots, (and I mean lots) of 12×12″  and 6×6″ stencils. These are perfect for all types of crafting and mixed media.
 
* * * * * * * * *
Also just arrived:
* More Martha Stewart border punches
* Top up of seasonal distress inks
* Graphic 45 – Ladies’s Diary
*  Plenty more due this week….

SheART and introducing our Canvas Club

This class was so popular we had to run it 3 times in 2 weeks! On Saturday morning we held our final SheArt workshop for the moment.

Love the individuality everyone brings to their work of art. Merrin was not happy that the girl had no feet, so she created a puddle at her feet, and changed one of the birds to a duck. Love it! Wish I had thought of it!

 Merrin had never tried her hand at mixed media before Saturday and look at her wonderful result!

Here are the results of a couple of the other ladies (forgot to take photos of 2 of them before they left)

Don’t you just love the creativity and talent?
And we have some GREAT news! We have started a canvas club. Once a month we will hold a class to create a canvas using various techniques. There will only be a limited amount of places available. The next one is on Friday 8th June starting at 9.30 till 11.30.
It features the same fun colours from Christy but no girls in sight. 🙂
Come and see Jenny or I in store to book or further information.

SheART – 2nd Class

Yesterday we held our 2nd SheART class as it has been so popular – our 3rd and final one of this version is on Saturday. (Don’t worry – there will be more chances for similar projects in the near future!)

As with all of the classes Jenny teaches – everyone loved it and left feeling very inspired ready to create more.

Here are the canvases created, everyone started with the same kit yet made it there own.

Act Belong Commit

 
I am sure all of you would have heard or seen the campaign for ABC – Act Belong Commit…If not, here is a link that will explain what the campaign is about. http://www.actbelongcommit.org.au/about-us/what-is-act-belong-commit.html 
 
ACT states that Mental health is a state of well-being. It’s not just the absence of illness, but also the ability to maintain relationships, cope with stress, contribute to the community and enjoy life.
Unfortunately not everybody experiences good mental health all of the time. In Australia, one in five people will experience some form of mental illness each year. Three out of ten will be seriously affected.
Depression alone is predicted to be the largest health problem globally by 2020. The personal, social and financial costs associated with mental health problems are enormous. In 2007-2008 the Australian Government spent $5.32 billion on mental illness services (Department of Health and Ageing 2010), not including the additional burden of social problems such as substance misuse, violence and crime, absenteeism from work, family and relationship troubles and physical illnesses such as cardiovascular disease. It is clear that interventions are needed to prevent the onset of mental health problems before the situation worsens.
The good news is there are things we all can and should do to promote our mental wellbeing and create a stronger more resilient community.
The campaign is based strongly on the need to belong somewhere and encourages people to join a group, meet with like minded people and commit to going even when you may be feeling down. The main point is that when we feel like we belong somewhere, it changes our outlook and life seems better.
That is what I love about scrapbooking. It doesn’t have to be just about the paper craft itself, but about the sense of community we get when we meet together, the knowing that we belong somewhere. Some people find it easy to engage and to make friends, yet others suffer in silence. I want my shop to be a place where all people from all walks of life will feel valued and accepted right where they are, right now. If you are reading this and don’t belong to any sort of social group, but know that maybe you should, then why not give scrapbooking a go. We hold all sorts of classes, at all different times, with all different budgets in mind and we would love to have you join us. We have a great community feel in our shop and it is one of the things I love the most. We have many customers who will drop in just for a chat, who think of us during the day and stop by with a coffee. We have customers who will lend us craft magazines, or  some will teach US a craft or too or share a technique we haven’t seen before. Some will come in and share what they have been making at home. We get to meet some awesome customers and many become friends, all because we have something in common! Isn’t that great? I love my shop!
So, get busy, get connected, make friends, enjoy life and take some time to scrapbook your memories along the way and have fun doing it. I Hope to see you in store soon.

Postcard off the page Idea…

“Postcard of Nouvelle-Écosse” by Genevieve Allen
Genevieve says:
“When I received this Postcard wooden flourish, I thought immediately of my photos of travelling through Nouvelle-Écosse (Canada) a few years ago. My pictures are like postcards, so I have decided to add them to the back of the wooden flourish and create an album! What a great idea!”
“I used different rub ons to make the cover of this album.”
“I hope that you’ll use this idea to keep some of your travel memories! “
Materials used:Wooden Flourishes FL408  Postcards, FL304 Bird; PP866 Paper Pad; P821 Illusion, P822 Vision, P824 Daydream; MA505 Mini Alpha Stickers, CT711 Collectables; CS819 Clear Stamps; Rub ons RB960 Charlotte’s Dream, RB952 Sweet Nothings, RB932, RB945 Timeless, RB924 Blae & Ivy.
Others: Hemp Cord, Glimmer Mist, Stickles, Punches, Distress Ink, cardboard.
the otiginal post + more great ideas can be found here.