I Took More Pics Today

I remembered to take more pictures today of the retreat center. The painters really went to town today! I just can't wait to move in. Tonight I'm taking a note pad and pen with me to bed. I have the best ideas just before I fall asleep and again about 4:00 or 5:00 in the morning!

3M Event

The 3M event went really well. I only had to do 130 make and takes. I wouldn't have had time to do anymore, I worked 1/2 hour over the end time of the event! I didn't mind, I love to share. Of course I didn't have time to take any pictures, but Rhonda and Savannah did so somehow I have to get the pics from them!
I already made a list of things I would do differently. We had a huge computer glich so now I have to inventory everything I brought so my inventory isn't off. Yikes, that's a little extra work I hadn't planned on!
Next year plan on going, it's a lot of fun. There were 7 stores that participated. Everyone had a make and take and it only cost $5.00 to get in. All the stores brought things to sell, and every one of them had something different.
Now I'm going to watch Big Brother, I'm at least two behind!

Sorry if you get my updates by email and you open them and they are empty. For some reason after I type my title I hit enter and that posts it before I've written my content, when all I want to do is get to the next line.
Yeah me and computers have a love hate relationship!

Yes, even more pictures! Hey, I'm on a roll.

Here come the cabinets. They are so beautiful! The guy with the hat is Dan the cabinet guy. He also did my cabinets for my house they pretty much look like these only in white! I thought I'd make the store look like home since I spend more time at work than I do at home these days!

More Pictures

The bald guy is Pat the builder, the one actually working is his sidekick Andy! I'm just joking, they both work very hard.

Pictures, finally!

I am not letting my husband watch Big Brother with me until he loads these pictures for me! These are just a teaser! This week they have been very busy. The cabinets have come in, the sinks are in, the countertops are on, the rooms are almost all painted, and all of the chandeliers are up! I guess Monday the carpet is going in the bedrooms! Then I 'm going to start decorating.

Ron and I went to IKEA and bought all the tables and bought them out of chairs and closets! We'll be going back this week to pick up the rest.

Things Are Really Coming Along

Wow, the transformation on the retreat center is fantastic! The bathrooms now look like bathrooms, the bedrooms have doors and door knobs, the floor is beautiful, we even have tile! I feel sorry for my poor electrician hanging all my fancy chandeliers! He's not so crazy about the orange, pink and turquoise one!
The construction workers weren't as crabby today, the poly smell wasn't so strong. Pat the builder guy was so grumpy that I brought him donuts this morning so he would be happy. I can't have that bad Chi around you know!
I don't know if you know but I'm taking the store on a field trip on Saturday to Woodbury to do make-n-takes for 250 people at a 3M convention. YIKES! Anyway I got a bright idea to do a story board about the retreat center. I bought a piece of white foam core, but I couldn't bring myself to get the job done. Then I had an idea, why not make it fun and do the layout on an old window. And so I did! Ron brought me in and old dirty window and I went to work. I was to lazy to clean it off so I was working with it dirty thinking I would get around to cleaning it the next morning when I was fresh. The more work I did with the window the more I liked it dirty! So instead of cleaning it the next morning I hair sprayed the dirt on! It looks so cute. I mistakenly asked Pat the builder guy what he thought. "It's dirty." He said. I said "Of course it's dirty I wanted it that way." He said "I just don't get it." And I thought to myself, that's why I'm the designer and you are the contractor! No offense here, I couldn't pound a nail to save my life! So I had a couple more dirty comments on my window from a few other customers. Later my daughter Savannah came in and said "oh Mom, it looks just like you. Leave it to you to take a crappy window and make it cute." Yeah, Savannah knows how to make her momma feel good! So I'm keeping the crappy window, and after the convention I'll use it in the store so you can all take a peek and see what you think.
Ron is up at the store now building me a new display out of ladders to bring with on Saturday. You know me I can't do anything ordinary.
The UPS guy kept me busy today. I got in a huge reorder to take with to this convention. I ordered this awesome candy line for the store. I couldn't resist! Who knew I like pecans? A ton of new Jolee stickers came in today. The are just so cute!
I gave Ron orders to post the latest retreat pictures on the blog for me. Please forgive the quality, I used my bad camera so the pictures aren't the clearest.

I Have Been Cleaning For 3 Days

I have been cleaning for three days straight! Are we pigs or what? I just thought of something, I can call this my spring cleaning! Here is my advice to anyone building a new house or remodeling, do not have white woodwork. Oh yeah, it looks cool, but you can see every speck on it! I have gone through more mr clean magic erasers, glad I bought them in bulk.
I decorated for Easter finally, I hate to rush into anything. I wouldn't have done it at all if I weren't having company. But I am stumped at what to do on my front porch. I put a Easter banner out and set an Easter basket with grass and fake eggs on my old chair. But now I'm at a loss. I knew I should have bought that huge bunny yesterday at Home Goods. If only I had a cute wheelbarrow, hum...

Just To Let You Know

I am taking a few days off from the store. Lauren is off from school the rest of this week so we are going to girl stuff. Tonight before I tucked the girls in I asked what they thought we should do tomorrow. Lauren said we should bake a cake, Ella wants chocolate, and play games. So it is, we'll be licking batter and playing Candyland.
We will be closed Sunday for Easter. I'll be entertaining at my house. My sister is coming home from Bismarck and my brother Eric and his family are coming over. Guess we'll be doing a little cleaning around here.

I Don't Mean To Disappoint

I hope I don't disappoint anyone but I didn't even go near my scrap space today! I really was going to do my rock and roll layout but I really needed a day off. After I got Lauren off to kindergarten and Ella to her nap I sat in my comfy chair and watched Martha while I ordered food for the store! Yes food! Rhonda and I went down to the Gift Mart last Sunday and were sampling food and I thought what a great idea, tasty candy! I also ordered 20 different quilts for the retreat center. That was very hard to pick!
I had to close the store for Linda tonight and I had a pleasant surprise, two of my chandeliers came in for my funky rooms. Boy are they wild! The girls just squealed when I opened the boxes. I'll be lucky if I don't have to order two more for them! I'm doing funky felt wall hangings for headboards in those rooms, with big giant felt flowers on the wall. It's going to be very cool!
Our new billboard went up today. They did a pretty good job. I'm not that crazy about it. I had Colors By Craig do my sign for the store. The day he came in to design the sign we kinda hung out for a while and talked about things I liked and I showed him a drawer pull from one of the old pieces from the old Mercantile. He and his wife went home and designed exactly what I had in my brain! No joke, these two are awesome designers. The best part is they listen and pay attention to detail. I have to confess, DO NOT TELL PAT THE BUILDER GUY! Since they hung the new sign, I don't hate the pine trees on the store front anymore. I have complained about those things from the start. But now that the sign matches the building I think I can live with the pine trees!

Up and Coming Classes

Come in any hour from Noon to 4:00 and plan to spend an hour for Sunday's Creative Corner With Vikki. You will learn at least one new technique a week!
March 16th 6 Cards for $6.00
March 30th One Sheet Wonder
April 20th Four Pack of Treats
April 6th Hexagon Card and Hexagon 2 page layout
Check out Vikki's blog for photos at vikkijoscorner.blogspot.com

Would You Like To Use Our Cricut

If you would like to use our Cricut be our guest. We have the official rules posted in the work room. The long and short of it is you buy your own mat, buy the paper from our store, and you pay .10 a letter, shape or icon.

Things Are Coming Along

The sheet rock guys finished today!
hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii this is Elllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
hi this is Lauren
The girls are getting ready for bed and have invaded my computer. I'll finish this post later!
The children are all snuggled in their beds.
Back to the construction. The sheet rock guys are done and the tapers are right behind them. The electricians are getting the award for the hardest workers. I think they have been there everyday since the beginning!
It is looking pretty awesome around there! Pat the builder guy assured me it would be done by April 1st so I can move in.

Kids Class Announcement

We have a new teacher on board with us and I am so excited that she will be helping us out with a kids class. I've always wanted to do a kids class but I just didn't have the time. Cindy is going to take care of that for me! Our first kids class will be Tuesday April 1, 2008 at 3:30. They will be making 3 cards for $5.00. Give us a call at 320-629-9960 to reserve your spot. You will need to have a basic tool kit for the class.

New Class Announcement

March 30, 2008 Vikki will be teaching a great class nine cards and a tote. The cost of the class will be $15.00 call us at the store and reserve your kit at 320-629-9960. You can come in any time from noon to 4:00 to make this kit. It does take about and hour to complete so leave yourself plenty of time to finish. Bring a basic tool kit with you.

I Met A Movie Star's Aunt!

I don't know if you guys watch October Road, but I love that show. As a matter of fact I'm so sad that it was the season finale that I haven't watched it yet! When the two friends glass company opened I totally stole their logo idea from their front window for mine!
This lady came into the store this afternoon with her granddaughter and we were chit chatting. She asked me if I watched October Road and I said yes, I love that show. She said well do you know the character that hasn't left his house since 911? And I said yes I do. She said, well I'm his Aunt! I couldn't believe it! She said that when he comes to Pine City she is going to bring him in so I can meet him! How cool was that. A brush with stardom right at the scrapbook store!
I've been very busy this week! Here is what I've been checking in:
New Prima paper
New Jenni Bowlin
Graduation paper
Jungle paper
Family paper and stickers
Prom paper
Albums
New volleyball and hockey papers and stickers
Peel Off stickers
All of the colors of Stickles
Elsie paper and goodies from KI memories
New lace papers from KI
And it is just Wednesday!
I'm taking Thursday off, I need a break. I'll be back to work Friday and Saturday. Lynn and I are working the store on Saturday. Lynn is our awesome new employee, stop in and say hi. I'm sure you'll love her as much as I do!
Maybe I'll have my new I Love Rock and Roll page done by Friday. That is Lauren, Ella and my favorite driving tune. The best part of it is that Lauren sings "put another dime in the juice box baby!" It cracks me up, we all sing it that way now!

Stamp Of The Month

I just got done checking in the stamp of the month. Super cute, now everytime I see a stamp I think hey that would look good with a little flower soft!

The new colors of Glimmer Mist are fantastic! Suede was my favorite along with the watermelon.

I have only one more of the Cropodile Big Bite left. I resisted taking it for myself. I'll wait for the next order.

The ribbon bags from Pull EZ are in. These never stay around long. The new colors are backordered but I do have the black, lavender, blue and pink.

Tomorrow I will work hard at getting Carol Wilson glitter paper checked in and the Clear Scraps acrylic word albums!

New Products

Wow have I been busy! It took me 5 days to check in and put out the new product line by Kaiser, an Australian company. It is fantastic! Everything matches like garanimals, it doesn't get any easier than this! The paper is double sided, it has jewels, felt, rub-ons and brads that all match. The beyond the page line is out of this world! The mini books are super cute and the storage and home dec is adorable! Make sure you stop in and check it out, the papers only came in 10's. The rub-ons and felt are in 3's. This won't be around long, which is a good thing because they do a new release every month. I'm not real sure on how often because I had a really hard time with his accent as he did with mine. We spent most of our conversation saying excuse me?!

I'll be checking in the new colors of Glimmer Mist. The colors are very spring and summery!

My order of Graphic 45 paper came in! Oh I love it even more. All I could think about today was using that paper on one of the new mini book shapes. Shame on me!

Carol Wilson Fine Arts is also in, which means I'll be full of glitter for the next couple of days! Not such a bad deal!

I checked in the new K&Co line Rhapsody. I didn't order the whole thing. Frankly I'm a little peeved at the company but I loved the fan paper and the spinning stickers. Yeah I'm a sucker!

Whirligig by Autumn Leaves is pretty darn cute! I think it will pair great with the new printed acrylic albums I'm still waiting on!

BoBunny word books should be coming soon, I got a UPS email about it the other day.

Jennni Bolin products should be coming soon they also sent me a email.

I ordered a bunch of Rubber Stamp Tapestry Peg stamps for the 3M event I'm going to March 29th. If you want to do an awesome make-n-take stop in and check it out!

The store is really taking shape, stop in and see all the goodies!

The Infamous Bear

This bear has been nothing but trouble since the day I met him. Ron and I were in and poking around the building before all the old fixtures were out when I came across this bear. I put him a box full of stuff of another guys so he'd unsuspectingly take it with him. Well, one day we were up at the new store cleaning with the girls and low and behold Ella found him and Lauren snatched him away from her. The fighting I tried to prevent started. This is exactly what I didn't want. If there is one bear, you must have two because these girls just do not share! Soon after that the bear disappeared, thankfully! About a week later I was in at the new store poking around when there I spotted him on a pile of lumber. Yikes, he's back! I told Pat the builder, get rid of that bear he's trouble, the girls fight over him. So Pat the builder guy assured me he'd get rid of the bear as he strangled him. So it's about a week after we opened when I was trekking across the store and I stopped dead in my tracks. There on my front table was the bear! He's back again. A little while later Pat the builder asked if I had noticed anything different in the store. Ha Ha Pat the builder very funny, now every kid that comes in the store fights over that bear! So I'm keeping that silly old bear, maybe I should put him under glass!