The New Year

The New Year is just around the corner. Are you ready? Are you organized? Have you decided on New Year's resolutions?

Here's just a couple of things that might help you with some of these questions:

Stamp Converter: Do you have unmounted rubber stamps or wood block mounted stamps that are taking up a lot of space? See-D's has created a way to minimize the bulk of the wood block stamps as it allows you to convert your rubber stamps so they can be used with a clear stamping system. This kit comes with 4 storage boxes, 8 sheets of cling, and 8 storage cards.

Mini Calendar Stamp set: If you are looking for a little 2008 calendar to keep in your purse, why not make your own. It's the perfect size and you can customize it any way you'd like. And, you can use it year after year and on other projects as well, like layouts and cards.

And, last but not least, remember -
All Christmas GIFT items in the store are currently 30% off

SALE! & Work It Wednesday

First up, There's an after Christmas sale going on at Judy's right now.
All Christmas items in the gift section are 30% off!


Now, onto our Work It Wednesday. Scrapbooking is all about remembering, right? Sure, we do it for fun and it's a creative stress reliever for some. But really, we do it to remember. It's a way to tell our story, to document the details of our lives.

This time of year is a perfect time to stop and reflect on some of those details. So, for Work It Wednesday go get your camera. Take a look around your house and determine which holiday decorations are special to you. Ask yourself which ones are worth remembering? What are the details and the story behind them? Why are they special? Take pictures of them and then take a few minutes to write down the details. Then you will have everything you need to make a special little mini album of Holiday details worth remembering.

Enjoy,
Amy

P.S. The photo shown will go in my little book of Christmas details. It's one of the first few decorations we put out each year. It always comes out before the other items and seems to be our way of slowing introducing our home to the holidays.

It's Time

It's time to wish you all a very
Merry Christmas and a
wonderful New Year!

Thank you for your continued friendship, business, and support. We are all looking forward to the new year and all the creative possibilities it brings.

All our love,
The Staff at Judy's

So much to share & it's Work It Wednesday!

It's Work It Wednesday! But before I get into today's idea I want to make sure that you stay with me for a bit as I've got some new products to show at the end of this post.

Ok - Let's dive in. Today's work it Wednesday is about making your own background paper. Here's what you do:

- Pick your paper. This can be a solid color of cardstock (like the white shown) or use a pattern piece that has a small print or subtle design (like green shown).

- Using the word processing program on your computer, type a line or two of several different words or statements into a document. Once you have a few lines done, go in and change the font and color on one or two words. The example shows that "Happy Holidays" is done in red while the rest of the words are in black.

- After you've changed the fonts and colors as you'd like, highlight the lines and copy them. Place the copied text right after your first lines and then repeat the process until you've filled a whole page with your chosen words.

- Next you print. And there you have it, you've created your own background papers. I still prefer to do 8.5x11 layouts but you could use this tip on a 12x12 too, even if your printer can't print that size. Just print it on 8.x5 x 11 and place that piece of paper onto the 12x12 background. You can also use your newly created pattern paper for cards.

The coolest thing about this trick is that you can work it into any theme; birthday, Christmas, vacations, anything will work. It gives your designs a totally custom look. So cool!

Here's a sample layout and a card I did using this weeks Work It trick.

Next time you are in the store keep your eyes open for pattern papers that have a small design to them, buy some and then see how you can personalize it using today's Work It trick.

Now, as mentioned above - we have new stuff in the store! We love getting shipments and we love sharing them with you. We have the new Card Creations idea book by Paper Crafts - (I's a good one! Lots and lots of creative ideas for all different kinds of cards)


And we have a ton of new Jolee's stickers too. So many I had a hard time getting a good photo to show. There are Hockey skates, hunting, kayaking, rafting, tennis, pirates, skiing, ambulance, princess, and so many more. The detail on these stickers is amazing. Check them out when you come in next.
That's it for today - Happy Wednesday!

Quick Christmas Ornament

Here's a really quick Christmas ornament idea
that is really easy to make.

You will need:
1 - clear glass ornament (You can buy them at Judy's)
Holiday paper cut into 1/2" x 6" strips (Judy's has holiday paper too)
1- pencil

Here's what you do:
- Remove the top of the glass ornament and set aside
- Take a strip of paper and roll tightly around a pencil
- Carefully remove rolled paper and place inside ornament
- repeat process until the ornament is as full as you'd like
- Replace topper and hang on Christmas tree or give as a gift

We are quickly approaching the last full week to get your Christmas shopping done. Remember Judy's has a large selection of beautiful gift items as well as scrapbooking and art supplies. And if you're not sure what to get, stop in and pick up a Gift certificate.

Guess What???

It's a girl!!!

Congrats to Judy and her family. Last night they welcomed a beautiful little girl into their family. This little addition is Judy and Steve's 4th grandchild. We're so happy for you!

It's still Wednesday, just barely

I've been on the road today so I apologize for the delay in getting up today's Work It Wednesday.

So, what's in store for today? I thought since Christmas is just around the corner, I would show a few ways that you can really work the supplies you have and turn them into some fun Christmas projects.

First up is the ribbon frame. A few years ago fibers and ribbons were the big trend in scrapping. I must admit, I never got into the fibers. But still to this day I can't pass up cute ribbon. It's my weakness. I have a large collection of ribbon, all kinds of ribbon, and I really don't use it much on my layouts. So, for this project I put my ribbon to work by simply wrapping it around a photo mat and placing it in a frame.

Up next is a new favorite of mine. It's a metal barn star that I've covered with Christmas papers. We just made these a few weeks ago in one of my classes and out of all the projects this one seemed to be the favorite. I used some new papers that Judy has in stock but you could alter a star, or anything else really, by picking out and using papers you have on hand.

So today's Work It Wednesday is to use your scrapping supplies for something other than scrapbooking. It can be done. You've got scrapbook paper, embellishments, and tools that can all be used for many other purposes. So put them to work and enjoy the creative process along the way.

(Side note: if you are interested in making a star of your own, stop into the store. Judy has the stars in stock. And if you want it, you can even pick up a pattern and the directions for altering the star. Be warned though, there is a limited number on hand)

Enjoy,
Amy

P.S. I've got a few other Holiday items to show in the next few days so be sure to come back. I like to read your comments too, even if you just say "hi".

Holiday gift idea...

Is there someone you need to buy for this year but just aren't sure what to get? I've been in that situation before. You want to buy something but either they have everything, need nothing, or you don't know them well enough to get them something too personal. So, here's what I did, I bought a candle and called it good. Yes, it's pretty generic but that's what makes it such a great gift. Because they come in so many varieties you can still personalize the gift by buying a scent that reminds you of that person. So, if you are in need of a quick gift check out the stash of candles Judy has in stock. There are many to choose from, everything from your flower varieties to warm and delicious holiday scents. And, in case you need help deciding on one, the candle shown that has Santa on the front - It really does smell just like a County Christmas. Warm, comfy and delightful!

Have you seen these?

You've probably seen these canisters at the store. They are just a canister right? Wrong! They are a blank canvas waiting to be decorated.

You can do so much with these. You can alter them, paint them, poke a hole in the lid and make a bank, use them to hold supplies, or give as gifts.

Here's a little sample of what I'm doing with them for Christmas gifts for my neighbors. First, I picked some scrapbook paper I love (lots of options at the store) and trimmed it to the right size. Then, using my Xyron Cheetah (available at the store) I added adhesive to the back of the paper and wrapped the canister.


After the paper was in place, I simple added some embellishments. A ribbon, tag and snowflake make the gift container complete.

Now the question is, what will I put in them? You could put quite a lot really. Candy, gift certificates, t'shirts, and for me, well, I'm giving cookie stacks. They are easy, just bake your cookies (or buy them), stack them up, wrap in Saran wrap and place them inside the canister. It looks so much better than just giving a plate of cookies. And there you have it, a cute little gift to give away.

We have a lot of these canisters in stock, both the ready-to-decorate and some already decorated. If we can set them aside for you, let us know.

And, if you like the gift tag shown, be sure to ask about it. It's new from Daisy D's and comes in a pack of 24. All of them being different and all of them being adorable. You can use them for gift giving, for card making and scrapbooking. They are in with the scrapbook stickers if you go looking for them.

Work It Wednesday - Dec. 5th

Yep! It's Wednesday again. That means it's time for another Work It Wednesday idea.

Do you have a favorite layout? A layout that came together quickly and when it was done you were really happy with the end results? If so, than you need to go pull it out from wherever it is hiding and put it to good use.

Here's what I mean. Sometimes coming up with new designs for our craft isn't always easy. So when you find a layout design that works, use it again. You can repeat the design of the layout over and over. Duplicate it on another layout that has a different theme and color scheme or even scale it down and use it for a card.

Personally, I really like this layout of my daughter. It was quick and easy. I used one of the pre-packaged kits that Judy has combined together of My Minds Eye products. (the kit has a few sheets of coordinated paper plus a cool pre-printed quote - ask about them next time your in the store.)

Because I love the layout, I decided to really "work" the design, and use it again on a quick Christmas card. You can see that even though the colors changed and the size is scaled down, the design still works.

So for today's Work It Wednesday I encourage you to look through your completed layouts and find a few designs you really like and then, well, copy them. Make more layouts or make some cards. Chances are, if you liked it the first time around, you'll love it the second and third too.

Enjoy,
Amy

P.S. - Remember last weeks tip about scraps. You should know, on this Christmas card, I went right to my pre-trimmed scraps, found a red I liked and pulled the card together in a matter of minutes.

Holiday Hours!

In order to make sure you have plenty of time to complete your holiday shopping we have special Holiday Hours at the store until Christmas.

Monday - Closed
Tuesday - 10 to 6
Wednesday - 10 to 6
Thursday - 10 to 8
Friday - 10 to 8
Saturday - 10 to 5
Sunday - 12 to 4

If you need a gift idea why not give a SIGN as a sign of your affection. The photos shows just a few but we have many other names and places as well. Come in and take a look.

Happy Holiday shopping!

Work It Wednesday

Every Wednesday we will feature a little scrapbooking, paper crafting, card making tip of some sort. An idea that will help you really "work " your craft.

Today's Work It Wednesday is dealing with scraps.

If you are like me, you hang onto your scraps. The problem is that scraps can become hard to manage and messy. Photo 1 shows my little scrap box. I keep this box out while I'm working on layouts and such so that I can quickly tuck my scraps in a dedicated spot and off of my work surface.

After I've completed my project, I'll take my box of scraps and my paper trimmer and I will trim all my scraps into a manageable size. For me, that size is 4.25 x 5.5. This measurement is the most common size for homemade cards. Once they are trimmed I keep them all organized in a little bin. Cardstock on one side. Pattern paper on the other. When I'm in need of a certain color or want to make a quick card - Voila'! I've got them close by and easy to find.

Often times I will even take this one step further. I tend to use a lot of neutral colors, like white and cream, for my journaling. My scraps of neutral colors are usually too small to cut at the measurement above. What I will do with them instead is trim them down into thin strips. Then using a stamp set, like the one below, I will stamp a bunch of sentiments. I'll bundle them up by category and keep them in my scrap bin (photo 3). That way when I need to make a card quick, I've got the paper pre-cut and the sentiment pre-stamped. All I need to do next is add a little decoration, sign my name and I'm done.

If you are interested, we've got a great new set of sentiment stamps in the store. This one shown is perfect for making cards as it has so many different sentiments and sayings.

That's it for your Work It Wednesday. Put in a good movie, grab your trimmer, your scraps, and a stamp set and you are good to go.

Enjoy!
Amy

P.S. The trimmed scraps are good for more than just cards, you can use them for all kinds of things like punch art and photo mats too.

AND THE WINNER IS......

WINDY!!!
Here's what she won - congrats!

Windy call the store for details on redeeming your prize!

Since tomorrow is Wednesday check back for a little thing I'm calling Work It Wednesday. Every Wednesday we will show a little scrapbooking, paper crafting, or card making tip.

And please remember you can leave us comments at any time. We love to read your messages.

Product pick and quick update....

Hey There!

Thank you to all of you who posted a comment on our blog. We are absolutely thrilled with the response. We only had a handful of people leave a comment but our blog has been viewed several hundred times and is stretching out across the U.S. We've had views from Texas, California, Iowa, New York, plus other states - how cool is that?! I'm so pleased that our little shop blog is being read by so many.

So, what about the blog contest? We will announce the winner on Tuesday. We'll let you know who won as well as show you their prize. So don't forget to check back!

Until then, I will leave you with my product pick for the day.

I must admit, I am not one who usually uses a lot of stickers in my crafting. However, I really, really like these. They would be perfect on the front of a Christmas card or even as an accent on the outside of your Christmas card envelope. Can't you just imagine your Christmas card sealed with a beautiful silver snowflake. There are different styles in stock and they come in either silver or gold. Perfect for this time of year.

Let us know if we can set any aside for you.

Blog Contest

Want a chance to win a goody bag filled with scrapbooking products? Of course you do, who wouldn't?! It's easy too, just leave us a quick comment about what you'd like to see on our blog. More new products? Your own layouts? Project how-to's? More contest? What is it, as a store, that we can do for you? Leave us a comment on this blog and on Friday we will pull a lucky winners name and award them with a fun-filled goody bag.

We're looking forward to hearing from you.

December 1st Classes

We've got some fun classes coming up. Two of which will be held on Saturday, December 1st.

Holiday Home Decor
Dec. 1st - 10am

Come prepared to do a little holiday decorating. Learn how to use scrapbooking products for non-scrapbooking projects. We will be making 5 fun and festive home decor items that can be used to decorate your own home or can be given as a gifts. Every project is easy to do, fun to make and quick to duplicate - that way, if you like what you create, keep it for yourself and make more for your friends. You will need to bring a 12" paper trimmer, scissors and adhesive. Everything else will be provided for you. We will be featuring a new line of paper and products from Daisy D's (not shown in picture but just as cute) Class cost is $37 for all 5 projects, plus I will have other ideas on display as well. CLASS IS FULL - if there is continued interest, we may run the class again. Please let us know if you are interested

Christmas Advent Countdown
Dec. 1st - 2pm


It's always fun to countdown the days until Christmas. In our class we will be making a cute 10x10 magnetic advent calendar. The highlight about this class is you will leave with a completed calendar that you can start using the same day. Perfect timing. Make the project for yourself or use as a gift. Please bring your paper trimmer, scissors and adhesive. Class cost is $25.
1 Seats left
Call the store to reserve your spot - 889-8000 or email today.

We've restocked!

We've had some new shipments arrive this week and we wanted you to know about them....

-Vellum spray is back in stock
- Air Force and Army pattern papers are in
- Cooking papers arrived (perfect timing for Thanksgiving)

Smiles,
Amy

Quick and Simple project - Place Cards

Okay, sorry it's taken me so long to get this posted. But here it is, just a simple and quick little project that you can do in a matter of minutes.

Let's start!

Here's what you'll need:
- 2 pieces of cardstock, (I used a burnt orange and a cream)
- various stickers (I used leaves and alphabets)
- adhesive
- paper trimmer or scissors
- brown ink
- ribbon and fibers

Step 1- Gather supplies
Step 2 - Trim background cardstock so that it measures 3.5" x 6" and fold in half.
Step 3- Trim cream cardstock to measure 3.25"x 4
Step 4 - Hold cream cardstock on top of one side of your folded background paper and begin placing stickers near top of cream paper. (See photo) Note: You are not adhering the papers together yet, only getting a visual of where the stickers will end up. See in the photo how the stickers will end up above the fold of the orange cardstock.

Step 5 - After stickers are positioned on cream cardstock, take scissors and cut around the tops of the stickers to remove excess cream cardstock.

Step 6: Finish your place card by inking the edges and adhering the cream cardstock to the orange.
Step 7: Customize the place card by adding a name and other elements like ribbon.

And, there you have it! A simple little place card to help decorate your Thanksgiving table.

Thanksgiving, It's coming right up!

I'm sure you've realized this, but Thanksgiving is just a week and a half away. Do you have your table decorations all planned? If not, stop into the store and see some of the new home decor items we have in stock. I was up in Orono yesterday and I was able to grab a few pictures of some of my favorite items. I think any of these, plus many others that I didn't photograph, would look great on my table.

And, just something else to think about, what if you aren't staying at home for Thanksgiving? Will you be enjoying dinner in someone else's home? These items, especially the beautifully carved fall pumpkins, would make a great Thank You gift for any well deserving host/hostess.

Check back soon for a quick place card idea..... I'll be sharing photos and step-by-step instructions.

What's working out for you?

THANK YOU!

Many of you have been so kind and have sent praise about our new blog. Thank you for that. We hope that as we continue with it we can inspire and inform. Inspire you to try new things and keep you informed about what is going on in the industry and with Judy's store and staff.

So, here's a little funny story. I ask one of my daughters how she was liking school. She's 5 and just started Kindergarten. Her response: "good". Curious what "good" meant, I continued to ask more questions. "Well, what's your favorite thing?" She replied by holding up her right hand, and pinching her pointer finger to her thumb, said, "They're teaching me how to hold a pencil like this - and, that's really working out for me right now!"

Those were her exact words. I was expecting her to say something completely different. While I've been laughing ever since, I keep thinking about how true her words were. She's learning something that is a basic for life. She's learning how to hold a pencil the right way. And to top it off, it's really working out for her.

So, since this is a scrapbooking related blog, I'm curious; what product or tool is it that is really working out for you right now?

I'll share mine first, and if you want you can share yours in the comment section below.

For me right now, I'm loving my EZ Tintz. That was probably a given, since there's a picture of them at the opening of this post. I love that I can do fun things with them without having to have too many other supplies on hand. The photo below shows a couple of quick cards I made using them coupled with a resist technique.


So that's mine. That's what's working out for me. I look forward to hearing from you about "what it is that is really working out for you right now." Do share.....

Amy

A Full Life...

I just wanted to give everyone a quick sneak peak at the cover for our album that we will be making in Saturday's class. The class is called "A Full Life" and will feature all those unique things that make your life "full" and special.

Our class will be "full" of fun as we will be working with page windows, paint, transparencies, wood, stamps, masks and more. Bring along 8 to 10 horizontal 4x6 photos that you love. (Photos can be color or black & white and should be a good mix of different things, people, or places that you feel compliment and bless your life.) You will need your basic supplies: scissors, paper trimmer, adhesive and brown ink (If you have it) - Class cost is $30

Seating is limited and there are only a few seats left so call (889-8000) or email right away if you'd like to join me on Saturday
Hope to see you then!
Amy

Product review and samples:

I've recently been trying my hand at the new Kaiser, Beyond The Page board books and products. And, I must say, I love them! If you enjoy making mini albums or home decor projects I highly recommend you check these out. They come in a variety of styles and are made from solid craft wood so it gives any design a firm base. Showing here is a sample of a Christmas Tree shape. The picture above is the item as it is packaged and the pictures below are of the item after I decorated it. On one side I decorated it as a Christmas tree, as suggested on the packaging, and the reverse side as a candy corn for Halloween (I know Halloween is over but I'm one decoration ahead for next year!). I love it when I can get two designs from one product!
This project, as well as an accordion book, is on display at Judy's.

New Items at Judy's!

New paper from Fancy Pants has arrived! Fun colorful patterns and calendar pages that are double sided and heavyweight.

Some great new Kalico Kitchen items are in! Have a look at these new Jams and Syrups. They're perfect for a holiday meal or as gifts!

These great Beyond the Page dimensional scrapbooking products from are really useful because they're much more sturdy than chipboard. Customize them however you wish by gluing on papers, painting them, etc. Let your creativity run wild!

For the music enthusiast or musician you're scrapping, these musical instrument sticker sets, Elvis stickers, and music-patterned papers are just the ticket!