Scraptacular in Ohio.
Tags:Just sitting in the terminal in Seattle, waiting for the last leg of my flight home...being thankful for such a great experience this weekend.
There was a special spirit at Scraptacular. From the first moment I walked in the store I was totally at home. The employees were amazing - always there with a smile and a "what can I help you with?" Jen: you were an AWESOME assistant & Trish, well, it was day two and you are pregnant (LOL)...seriously though, thank you for your help.
This is a store that has been open for almost a year - and they totally get it. They have tons of awesome products and a classroom that is amazing. The back of their store is a classroom that comfortably seats 40 students. Comfortably. Big tables. Comfy chairs. Enough room to walk in between the tables. I have been in a bunch of stores and I was seriously impressed with this classroom.
The store was totally decked out for the holidays - I was so loving the Christmas trees - especially a very cool "AE" tree that Stephanie decorated just for my classes (photo to come when I get home). Made me totally excited to get home and get out all my Christmas stuff on Friday morning (everything goes up the day after Thanksgiving at my house). They also had tons of new products available - I bought some new rub ons from 7gypsies, cool embossed papers from Heidi Grace, and some things for an album that I talk about below...
So I scrapbooked at the crop on Saturday night - can you believe it? Since I had nothing to work on that is actually due (bummer since I have a list to catch up on at home) I decided to put together a Christmas album. I used a Heidi Swapp 9x9 red album, nine sheets of patterned paper (all with a bit of red), a circle punch, some Christmas rub ons from Basic Grey, and a sticker sheet called Joy from 7gypsies. I will scan when I get home - it is super easy and cool. I got a whole bunch of pages done (following a really simple formula - the idea that we should not make things more complicated than they need to be) and will be ready to add in photos from this Christmas as it happens! It was an idea that caught on pretty quick LOL!
Scraptacular is also all about Duck brand adhesive - the manufacturer is right down the road. They made me giggle with their enthusiasm. Used it on the Christmas album - worked just right!
Special thanks to Pam, Rick, and Val (and to Ricky also - super gentleman) for making my stay so delightful and fun - I felt totally well taken care of - I appreciate that so much! I also have to say thanks to Jen & Stephanie and anyone else who helped out with the awesome gift baskets I received. Seriously so generous and thoughtful. Thank you all so much.
And to the rest of the staff and students, especially those of you who took risks this weekend, thank you for your willingness to play, for sharing your own stories, for hanging out, for going with the flow, and for being open to the idea that it really is all ok. No matter what.
Totally looking forward to hanging out with you all again next summer.
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23 comments
Sounds like you had a great time! Can't wait to see your lil album!! I love it when we make it easy on ourselves!!!
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Ali...your classes and trips sound totally amazing. I can't wait to meet you when you come to Indiana next month. Totally looking forward to your perspectives class.
krista
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Ali, your class was amazing!!...well worth the 2 hour drive. For those of you that have yet to take it, you are in for a treat...very well organized...very well taught ;o)
It was wonderful to meet you, and wonderful to know that you are as "down to earth" as you seem to be in your blog.
Looking forward to another class!
Christie
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Hey I am blog worthy! You are sooooooo awesome too! JenB.
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Travel home safely! Please post pics of your
Christmas decorations when they're up! I always
put the tree and decorations up the day after
Thanksgiving too, but this year we're stuck in
this tiny townhouse and honestly don't have room
for a tree! I'm so disappointed, but we also have
a lot of travel coming up too (including to Hawaii
with DH's family!) Looks like you have a little
bit of a break in the travel coming up--take care!:)
BTW: We met in Portland a few weeks ago, when I was
there for a job interview. It's almost a done deal!
I'll keep you posted!
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Can't wait to see your Christmas album...thanks for the continued inspiration and positive gratitude - always helps me to remember and appreciate my blessings! safe travels home - LT
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Sounds liek you had an awesome time...can't wait to see pictures!
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sounds like an awesome time! i bet it felt so good to scrap for youself!! can't wait to see your finished product!!
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Sounds like a wonderful store and that you had a fantastic time! Can't wait to see your mini album! ((I'm all about the Duck too - I was an instant convert after I tried it at winter CHA!)) Travel safely!
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Ali, we miss you already here in Ohio! Loved meeting you, felt like I've known you my whole life - you're so down to earth! I'm glad you had a great weekend - you've inspired me to change the way I scrapbook and teach scrapbooking as well. I learned so much in so little time, went by way too fast. Hope you are home, safe and sound. I'm sure Chris has the house in order, laundry done, dinner in the crockpot, ha! Give that little Simon a great big hug, brew yourself some coffee and take a nap! See you in July, Happy Thanksgiving.
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Ali, I didn't have your e-mail so I too am getting blog worthy and writing to thank you personally for what was one of the most fantastic weekends I can remember. You are such an inspiration to us. I was so humbled by your words. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
On a personal note, it made my heart soar with pride to see all of the staff at Scraptcular working so hard AND having fun. I am so blessed to have such a great staff.
Hope the flight home was a good one and that you are snuggling in Chris' arms watching Simon sleep. (hope he liked his goodies from Ohio!) Thank them for sharing you with us for the weekend.
Stay in touch. Love, Pam
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Ali! You re the greatest! I have been telling everyone that I talk to about you!
You are such an inspiration. I have such a problem with my handwriting and you brought me totally out the box and cool with it!
IT was so much fun having you in Ohio this weekend and I so hope Lori gets you down in our neck of the woods the "Amish Country"! (or atleast real close!)
We will show you an awesome time as well!
Thanks so very much! Thank your family for us also for sharing you.
Debbie - Donna - Lori and Barb
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Hi Ali- i had a great time with you Sunday- already put your photos and rave reviews on my blog, thanks for an interesting perspective on an already addicting hobby. Also thanks for taking time away from Simon & Chris to come and play with us!
Stacy
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Sounds like that was a great time you had here in Ohio. And I love the idea of creating something simple as a Christmas memory album.
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Hi Ali,
Sounds like a great weekend. I can't wait to see the Christmas album. I do one of my own every year, and this year I am soooo busy that I could really use a simple formula. Enjoy being at home!
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Love the Christmas Album idea...hope you don't mind if I borrow it. I always have a ton of Christmas photos and they sit in photo boxes year after year waiting for a scrapbook. It would be great to have this years photos in a album befor New Years. By the way, I only use Duck Brand Adhesive...found it at walmart and I love it. Works the best of any I have ever tried. Travel home safe and Happy Thanksgiving!
Kim
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Gotta LOVE the Duck - used it in your track at CKU-A plus it's $2 a roll - even better. Looking forward to seeing the Christmas album & the AE ornament :) (my christmas album is a 2-up Stacy Julian style - each family has 2 or 3 pages so I can watch'em grow up...)
Safe journey home to the boys!
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Sounds like an amazing time! Can't wait to see your Christmas book when you post...and also the AE tree made for you!
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Ah, if only I were lucky enough to take a class (other than CKU) from you! Someday, you'll be in one of the Utah stores, right?! Ü I can't wait to see your christmas album! Sounds like you (and everyone there) had an awesome time!
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Your blog is always so relaxing to read! Can't wait to see your album - sounds like a great idea! Andrea
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