join me.

Yayyyy my classes went live for sign ups yesterday, and will now be updated on our facebook page! Join us, and see what other classes and events we have available at The Paper Cottage or call to sign up at 937.912.5324.

 

&& my Trendy Tuesdays here on my blog will start Tuesday, September 11th as well, which will be the same theme as each class, but with an additional tutorial! SO, if you're an out of towner, you can still join in & take the class with me! I will have class kits, with full instructions & some of the materials we played with in class for sale as well :]

 

Incredibly excited to be teaching again, hope to see some of you in class! xoxo

Fall Open House.

Lately all my free time has been cutting, stamping && prepping for upcoming events, holiday shows & orders from customers. I love being busy, so it's been great, exciting to have so much going on! The first event I had coming up is my Fall Open House, which is this Saturday, August 25th at Marion's Town & Country. I am hosting the event with my friend Brittany, who is a ThirtyOne rep and I couldn't be more pumped for it to get here!

I hope to see lots of you locals there, I am doing a fall leaf make n take && additionally you will be able to place orders from the 12-13 catalog and the Holiday Mini. Any holiday items ordered will be 15% off, and if you order before the 31st, you get an extra 10% off of your ENTIRE purchase :] I will have cash & carry items, and we are also raffling off goodies from both companies-- earn tickets by bringing a friend, hosting a party, making a purchase-- plenty of ways to get more goodies!

Here's a few sneaks of the items I'll have out on display that are also for purchase>>>

If you can't come, don't worry, the special is open to you out of towners as well! Just shoot me an email at sbookinshay29@aol.com and I can add on your items & get them sent out to you!

back to PL [&school]

With school starting back up this past week, I thought now would be the perfect time to get back into PL, I fell a little behind once summer started, mainly because I got to travel a lot and had fun making mini books instead :] But for the school year, I think this project is incredible, especially because Caleb gets to get involved too-- he loves picking out which of his artwork goes in & bringing me home random bits from his school day!

To make it more fun for myself, once a month I am going to do a linky party with a theme, to inspire myself & my scrappy sidekick, Ellie, and maybe get some of you to join along with the fun :] Look for our challenges to start soon, I adore her and have really enjoyed all of our emails, tweets & messages. PLUS we're planning a visit, so this Ohioian can go visit her in New York!

I started back up with the week of August 6th-12th [I go Monday to Sunday] which was the LAST week of summer vacation for munchkin, and I really wanted to emphasize how FAST it flew by! I feel like we didn't really do anything we normally do during the summer-- no drive in, I am NOT tan, and with school starting over two weeks earlier, it just seems like it went by in a flash! I decided I reallllly wanted my photos to stand out, so I took some inspiration from Vee & Jamacia, and decided mostly white with pops of primary colors to represent getting ready for back to school would be super fun.
Here's my a few peeks at what I've done so far:

[for this journaling, I cut a slit in the pocket I was using, so the journaling could be hidden behind the journaling, but still pull out of the Bside of the page. It is all about how excited & anxious Caleb is for school to start]

I'm excited to start catching back up, and to have extra inspiration to keep me going, I'm having lots of fun getting it all together again! How is Project Life going for the rest of you crafters out there??



Project life is a memory keeping system designed by Becky Higgins. The simple "back to the basics" approach to scrapbooking simplifies the process using journaling cards & page protectors to enhance your everyday moments.

CRAZY.

Life is just a tad bit overwhelming at times! I just wanted to pop in and say hello to my favorite blog readers, and promise you that I haven't forgotten crafting, far from it in fact! I have been SO incredibly busy with projects for the store, revamping the blog & getting ready for some REALLY exciting features coming to you in September, and the worst part has been not having Internet right now :[ I am currently blogging from my iphone, and I am just NOT a fan of blogging in that fashion, I love having my laptop with a bigger screen, posts full of pics kind of girl!
So here's my promise to be back with a really inspirational post later this week, just for the readers because I really hate that I've been slacking! Happy crafting & hope you are all having an AMAZING day!

WiNNeRs!

As promised, today we announce our winners from the July CHA edition of our Social [Media] Butterflies blog hop group! So drumroll please...........

Congrats ladies! If both of you could please send me an email at sbookinshay29@aol.com & give me your addy, I will get these sent out to you shortly! Thank you to everyone who joined along with us, commented & followed- I hope you saw some incredible inspiration, and that you'll join us again next month!

the paper cottage.

Hellllllllo paper-crafting 24/7.

You're about to find out about the new LSS in town, The Paper Cottage! Some of you may know Brenda, we used to work together back in the day at Simply, and I adore her, her creations are INCREDIBLE, and she's always dreamed of having a store, so voila! I have reaaaalllly missed working at a scrapbook store, and I am so excited to get to work with Brenda [I'm the IT department right now LOL] teach a few classes, and see her store grow :]

Coming home from CHA, I had the Social [Media] Butterflies blog hop, and I am still SO incredibly INSPIRED by both the events, and the scrappy friends I have met IRL and online. Some of them are my lifesavers when I have emergency #scrapgirlproblems, others let me shout ideas at them, and they design things for me on a whim-- I LOVE them. [XOXO, you know who you are ladies!]
When The Paper Cottage opened on the 24th, I was beyond thrilled to talk to Brenda about teaching some classes, and LOVE what we've talked about! You'll find out more soon promise ;] The ideas have been pouring onto paper [get it?! haha] and I am in LOVE with all the projects I have lined up, and cannot wait to share with you all over the next few months! I have been a busy bee getting ready for the Open House this Saturday from 10am-6pm, planning a 'Trendy Tuesday" series and working on this cute little project---



[aren't these ladies beautiful?? So lucky to get to use pics of them taken by Lindsey Battag]




Check out The Paper Cottage in Beavercreek, Ohio on Facebook, and let me know if you'd like to receive info & emails about my classes-- even for you out of state ladies, I can get you a kit WITH instructions :]

Don't forget, today's the last day for our Social [Media] Butterflies blog hop's CHA giveaway! Go HERE to enter for your chances to find out more :]

July SMBiGblohop

Thanks for joining us again this month for the July CHA edition of our Social Media Butterflies blog hop! Hopefully you started at our welcome post, and are following along the hop, which means you're come from Amanda's blog, but if not feel free to go back to the beginning  here & see all the incredible projects, comment, follow & earn all your chances at our CHA goody bags FULL of product from the show! Follow ME here on my blog, or on instagram or twitter @sbookinshay29 or use the hashtag #SMBiGbloghop, and earn EXTRA chances, just come back and leave a comment on my blog for each you do!
It has been so much fun sharing what I saw at CHA, thanks for all the love I got for sharing my experience with you. Getting to use some of the products I was lucky enough to get at the show has been super fun, I'll be showing you some of them today! I had a hard time deciding which products to use, so I decided to combine two companies. I picked the papers from Glitz Design my new favorite company, and the vellum polaroids from Studio Calico everyone cannot wait to get their hands on! I have to tell you, they're even better in person! The papers are from the ------ line, and I thought it'd be fun to use some of my pics from Chicago for the hop, so here it is--

The Glitz Designs papers & to die for embellies will ship mid-September, make sure you ask your LSS to carry them! You will fall in love with the colors, stamps in tins & unique embellishments, plus the 3 women who own the company are just about the sweetest ladies around :] xoxo
Next on the hop you will be going to Monica's blog, thanks for joining us this month, and good luck on winning one of the two CHA bags :] Come back on the 29th next month for more inspiration & prizes!


[  If you're here for the scrappy sale, it's still going on! Check out my flickr page here & email me at sbookinshay29@aol.com if you're interested in any items :] Thank you! ]

Welcome Back.

Hope you are all ready to be blown away by some more inspiration this month, for the July CHA Social [Media] Butterflies blog hop! With CHA buzz being so exciting, we thought we would show you some of our favorites from the show, and how they inspired us!

I started this blog hop group because almost every scrapbooker I know writes a blog, is on facebook, twitter, the message boards-- we like to stay connected to each other! My favorite is instagram, we enable each other from the new scrappy items we've bought to our latest Target adventure and see even more into each other's everyday life. Even thought it's just IG, I've met some incredible ladies I'm glad to call friends. I LOVE that I get to meet some of them IRL, thanks to scrapbooking & other paper crafting events!

The ladies I follow are truly inspirational, constantly full of new ideas & info to share with so much talent & unbelievable generosity. I want to share some of what I LOVE most about my IG friends, and invite them to join us! Every month, on the 29th, I will be hosting a blog hop, here and on instagram, that celebrates our love of social media. Follow us as we tag the next crafty genius by using a piece of their work as our inspiration, and blog about our experience.

Want to join in? Scraplift any of the projects you see, come back here and link up the project to this main post. Want to become part of the group for next month? E-mail me at sbookinshay29@aol.com we would LOVE to have you! Comment on ANY of our blogs this month, and you could win one of two HUGE goodie bags from Summer CHA, filled with new products from the show! Want more chances? Tweet about the blog hop, tell us your favorite project using the hashtag #SMBiGbloghop & leave another comment for each of these that you do! You'll have until Wednesday the 1st at midnight EST, winners will be announced here on Thursday!

Here's this month's blog hop order, in case you get lost, just come back here :]

Welcome.   <<<< you are here!

Suz     http://livealifeextraordinary.blogspot.com/

Sabrina http://vixendeity.com/

Erika http://erikabardo.wordpress.com/

Angel http://kindlelover.blogspot.com/

Kristin http://rukristin.blogspot.com/

Margrethe     http://onelifedocumented.com/

Amanda http://somethingsorta.blogspot.com/

Shay http://sbookinshay29.blogspot.com

Monica http://monicalifeasme.blogspot.com/

Mary Pat http://siehledwithakiss.blogspot.com/

Melissa P http://www.melissapriest.com/

Trisha http://blissfulwander.blogspot.com/   

Christmas in July.

Anyone but papercrafters dread this time of year, when already buisnesses start preparing for the holiday season. Who really wants to think of Santa, snow & shopping list when it's 100 degrees outside? For us, we LOVE to start thinking about it, the earlier the better--more time to work on projects for the holidays! Especially with CHA revealing all the goodies to come, && Stampin Up's holiday mini starting August 1st, I am SO excited to start thinking about my holiday cards, gifts & decorations :]

Today, I want to share some of the NEW Stampin Up holiday items & celebrate it with my Christmas in July event! If you're close to me, soon it'll be time to preview all of my upcoming SU classes, or if you're a little farther away, I can get you a kit if you like what you see! ALL of you will be receiving the Holiday Mini catalog sometime in the nextt week if you're on my mailing list! [If you aren't but would like to be, let me know!]

Of course with any event, there are SPECIALS as well! Get 20% off ANY holiday product, including the new catalog. Place an order before August 10th & spend 50+, get a FREE holiday set. HOST a workshop & get a SECOND set FREE with any party with over a $150 in sales-- this can even include a book party for the out of towners!-- & this is ON TOP of the special promo from Stampin Up next month, which hasn't been announced yet! What a perfect time to order what you need for your holiday projects?!

Need some inspiration? Here's a card to get you started:

Products Used: Crumb Cake cardstock, Basic Black, Real Red, Soft Suede & Pear Pizazz inks, Dazzling Details & Jolly Bingo Bits stamp set

&& here's a few of my favorite holiday sets & projects this year-- look closely you might see peaks of the new sets :]

 

I will also be holding Card Classes twice a month, a Countdown Class-- realllly cute for gifts or to display at home! & also a Stocking Stuffers class, with treats you can also use for your little ones holiday parties & events :] Keep watching, the calendar will be updated soon with dates :] Through my blog I will also be selling pre-made cards in packs of 10 & 25, which will come with envelopes, ready for you to send out! Check out my flickr site, which is always updated with scrappy items I have for sale, and my projects you can order :]

Next month look for Back to School && Halloween cuteness to hit the blog, there are some ADORABLE projects coming up, like with this cute set >>>>

Giveaway Winner!!!

I'll be back a little later this week with a CHA wrap up, more products & amazing projects && some of my Chicago tourism. But in the meantime, I know you're all anxious to find out who the winner is!

Jennifer Robertson, you're the lucky lady!!!! Thanks for following me & commenting all week :) If you could send me an email at sbookinshay29@aol.com with your addy, I'll get a package right out to you! xoxo