Scrapbook, Eh?

"Helping Canadian Scrapbook Retailers Be The Best They Can Be!" TM

Featured New Products On Our Website

Daisy D's

What does the change in seasons mean to you? Is it the first crisp chill of autumn, new sweaters and school shoes, or the color of leaves in their full autumn blaze? Daisy D's introduces Seasons, a new collection by artist Kelly Taylor designed to preserve what the change in the seasons means to you. Forty-eight 12x12 papers, five 12x12 transparencies, five 4x6 transparency frames and a mini book set compliment this collection.

For everyone who still believes in the wonder of the season and the magic it can bring, Daisy D's introduces Christmas Traditions. This collection of beautiful and colorful designs will help you preserve the wonder in their eyes for a lifetime. In addition to eighteen 12x12 papers, this collection also includes a 12x12 transparency, a 4x6 transparency frame, diecuts and a mini book set.

Fiskars

Fiskars Embossing Organizer can be used alone or in a rolling organizer. One side can hold the Fiskars ShapeBoss and the other side hold templates. This organizer can also be used to store punches or other scrapbooking supplies.

Fiskars Shape Template Organizer stores templates, cutters, mats or anything else. It also has a removable 12 section accordion file that holds up to 24 templates or a variety of paper.

Fiskars 12x12 Paper Organizer can be used alone or in a rolling organizer. This twelve section accordion file makes it easy to organize your 12x12 paper.

Fiskars Universal Organizer can be used alone or with the Ultimate Rolling Organizer. The interior is customizable to accommodate a variety of supplies from punches to trimmers to paper. Great for stampers, too!

Cropper Hopper

Lose the mess, Keep the memories!
Cropper Hopper Fiber Cards are a great way to organize fibers so they are easy to locate and use! Made of a sturdy material to hold even your thickest fibers. Starter hole in center makes it easy to find the end. Fits right into the Embellishment Box! 25 cards per pack.

Crop In Style

Crop In Style's modular home storage is the ultimate in organization for the craft and scrapbook enthusiast. This easy to assemble line is specifically designed to store 12x12 scrapbook papers, oversized craft supplies, albums and more.

A four drawer organizer cube is now available. Ideal for organizing rubber stamps, embellishments and small craft suppliers. Made from MDF and laminated in Classic White with brushed nickel metal handles. The exterior dimensions are 16 3/4" x 16 3/4"

To organize an existing drawer, the Drawer Divider is the perfect solution. The Divider fits a Crop In Style's 2 drawer or 3 drawer cube.

The Desk Top surface converts four or more cubes into a work desk unit. Reinforcing brackets attached to the underside of the table panel and sides of cubes to creates a stable work surface. 33 1/2" x 16 3/4". All hardware is included.

Maximize your space with the Crop In Style Store in Style Corner Shelf. Works alone or stacked, and is ideal for storing small craft items. 15 1/2" x 15 1/2" (corner to corner) exterior dimension.

Also available for your Filer Cube are Hanging Files and File Folders. The Hanging Files come in packs of six. The Tabbed File Folders are in packs of 18. Both are designed for 12x12 paper.

Me and My Big Ideas

Check out the new Me and My Big Ideas Sayings Stickers and Rub-Ons. You are sure to find the perfect design for your every crafting need.
Each of the 21 new rub-ons include an applicator stick and can be used on a variety of surfaces including paper, metal, tin, wood, fabric, ceramic and even drywall or painted surfaces. Each package contains two different sheets.
Me and My Big Ideas Stickers come on 5-1/2" x 12" sheets, featuring oversized, theme-oriented stickers. Stickers are acid-free and printed on clear material...no white borders!! The BEST part about Me and My Big Ideas Stickers is that they allow you to complete scrapbook pages FAST!

Free Shipping

FREE Shipping at Scrapbook, Eh? Wholesale - Our “Early” Holiday Gift To You!

Between November 1st - November 20th, 2004 we are offering FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $500.00.
Please place coupon Code #FF110104 in comments section of your order to receive this discount.
(See current conditions on shipping on website for exclusions and 50/50 shipping).

Scrapbooking Tips

Classic Paper Piecing

Have you ever spent half the night searching for just the right supplies to go with a specific theme .... only to come up empty handed and become frustrated?

Well, with a piece of tracing paper, a picture of something from your theme and some acid-free cardstock, solid colors and/or patterned, you can create custom embellishments to go with your theme!

The technique is called paper piecing and we think you will love the choices it will open for you!

Paper piecing is the art of cutting and adhering paper pieces into shapes. The shapes can be pictures, borders or designs. This technique is very similar to fabric appliqué, but with paper. It's a very versatile and fun way to decorate scrapbooking pages!

Paper piecing can be time consuming. It's probably not something that you'll want to use on every page, but it is fun to create and can personalize a page to make it very special.

WARNING: It can be very addicting!

You will need:

Tracing paper
Pencil & eraser
Transfer paper (optional)
Picture or stencil that you'll use as your pattern
Assorted cardstock (colors & patterns should match your theme)
Black acid-free fine tip pen
a pair of good quality scissors. If using a pattern with smaller pieces or tricky angles, micro-tip scissors are recommended.
Your favorite adhesive
Marker & chalks for detailing (optional)

The quickest and easiest method to create a paper piecing design is to purchase a paper piecing pattern. The shapes, deigns and colors are all done for you. All you have to do is cut, adhere and decorate.

You can create your own designs as well. It costs less, but it is more time consuming.

The easiest way to create your own pattern is with a scanner & printer or a copy machine. With these tools, you can adjust the size of your pattern to fit your page needs. you can print or copy the pattern directly on the desired cardstock to save time. They also enable you to print an extra copy or two of your pattern to save time if you make a mistake or to use as a quick reference for putting it all back together on your page once it's cut into pieces. Sometimes it resembles a puzzle.

If you do not have those tools available to you, there are other options.
~The least expensive is tracing paper and carbon or transfer paper.
~A more expensive option but a step saver is a light tracing box. With this method, you can move your paper to separate the pieces of the pattern instead of tracing it whole. Example: trace the arm, move your paper and trace the other arm, move again and trace the head...

Tips:

~Save your paper scraps, they come in handy for these types of projects.
~Patterned papers add dimension and texture.
~A narrow black mat helps the image to stand out more.
~Tracing paper is a thin paper that has color on one side. It's very easy to find in most craft stores. It is sometimes also called graphite paper. It is an inexpensive but very helpful tool.
~Keep a 3-ring binder to save patterns for future use.
~Reduce or enlarge the same pattern to add more dimension or depth to your page.
~Copy or print your pattern onto cardstock instead of regular to have a sturdier, less flimsy pattern.
~Reverse a pattern to direct it to fit your layout best.
~Use a pencil first to draw light lines for things such as faces. Once you are happy with the way it looks, you can use your scrapbooking marker to trace over it.
~Use specialty papers, embellishments and fabric to personalize and give dimension.
     ~Vellum makes great wings and windows.
     ~Velvet, suede or mulberry paper help with a soft (or furry) look.
     ~Eyelets, ribbon, wire & punchies are a few ideas to bring your pieces to life.

Some resources for patterns include: Paper piecing books, Paper piecing patterns, Coloring books, Clip art, Quilt books and magazines, Stencils, Wrapping paper, Kids picture books, stencils, Toll painting patterns and books, Fabric appliqué' books & patterns, the internet offers many free patterns....the resources are unlimited!

Any picture can easily be enlarged or reduced. Computer clipart can be enlarged or shrunk on your screen. Anything else can be done on a copy machine or scanner if you have one.

Using clipart for a pattern means you have to figure out which pieces will overlap. Example: shirt will overlap the head, neck and arms of a body. Therefore, when tracing the head and neck, extend the neck so that it is longer and will show after you place the shirt.

Helping Canadian Retailers Be The BEST They Can Be!

Each week we try to bring you a business article to help improve your business and give you something to think about.

Easy and Cheap!
Marketing Ideas for Your Scrapbook Store

Scrapbooking appeals to a wide variety of people—teenagers, young mothers, grandmothers, brides, groups, brownie troops and so many more demographic groups. Everyone takes pictures, right? Absolutely! That’s why scrapbooking is such a popular hobby…it is universally appealing and offers a lasting reward. You know this…this is likely why you are a part of this industry!
However, the flip side of “universally appealing” is that your limited advertising dollars must be stretched to reach all those demographic groups! Most local scrapbook stores don’t have the advertising budget of Coke or Tide so it is imperative that we find creative ways to stretch the advertising dollars that are available! The goal of advertising is to make loyal customers out of potential customers.
The best way to do this is to develop an army of advertising reinforcements. Each member of this army will individually and cooperatively reinforce your brand and your store in the minds of potential customers and regular customers alike. Sound overwhelming? As long as your advertising budget is small, think of yourself as exchanging “big bucks” wide-scope advertising for more creative, targeted advertising. Think of yourself as exchanging your time and energy for the use of your bucks.

The ideas presented here will require some investment of time and some creative energy…but not a lot of dollars!

Email
Welcome to 2004, a time when the world is accessible on the internet! You need an email list and at the very least, a basic website. Start now collecting the email addresses of your customers (you’ll be surprised how many of your customers do have email) and send out an email newsletter every two weeks. Be sure to utilize a mailing list program that protects the addresses of your list. You can do this by using the “BCC” feature or by setting up a free list at www.yahoogroups.com

Parents Magazine and Community Newspapers
Most major metropolitan areas are home to at least one magazine that is targeted to parents and lists tons of kid-friendly happenings in the area. To find out if there is one of these in your area, check the foryer of several local grocery stores and family restaurants. These publications are almost always FREE for the taking. Collect what you find and look into having your classes and special events publicized in the community happenings portions of the publications. Similarly, community newspapers often offer this same calendar services. Read the fine print to find out about submission deadlines. Because scrapbooking is such a booming industry, don’t be afraid to offer an “inside scoop” to a reporter from the community newspaper. Human interest stories are great attention getters and of course, your store can feature prominently in an article about the popular hobby of scrapbooking! Be sure your contact information and your website are included.

Make Use of Magazines
Do you have out of date magazines laying around? Here are two possibilities for using back issues of magazines to bring in new customers:
1) Roll up a magazine and secure with a pretty “baby” bow. Attach a certificate for a free beginner class and your current newsletter. Drop several of these off to the coordinator of the child birth classes at your local maternity ward to be used as door prizes. Don’t forget to provide flyers about your store for everyone else in the class.
2) Place a large sticker with your contact information and web address on the front and leave in the waiting rooms of your child’s doctor and dentist.

Photo Developing Cross-Marketing
Is there a small independent photo developer in your community? Make friends with the owner or manager and offer to trade referrals. Let your customers know that this is where you take all your film to be developed and that “Jake” at “Peachtree Photo Developing” is very knowledgeable and affordable. Ask “Jake” to do the same and provide small flyers for him to distribute.

Drive Your Own Billboard
If and only if you are a polite driver, have a bumper sticker or small magnetic sign made for your car, featuring your store info and website.

Feature Teachers
Instate a special rewards program for school teachers and let them know. Word travels fast amongst teachers! Consider offering a special discount on a specific day of the week or offer a special class that features quick ideas that teachers can make use of in their classrooms. Make the most of your advertising dollar by being creative and memorable!