The last word is Tim's

Well - as you have probably gathered, we are BIG Tim Holtz fans here at Skribbles and Scraps. Oh did I say BIG? - well I mean GI-NORMOUS fans! So - it's fitting that the last blog of the year is about Tim!


We could barely contain our excitement this week when we found out that Tim is putting the finishing touches on his new book "A Compendium of Curiosities Volume ll."  It will be released at CHA Winter 2012 at the end of January - and we can't wait to get our hands on it!

If you're not familiar with his first "A Compendium of Curiosities" - you're missing out on a technique packed resource that really allows your creative side to shine. Here's what the man himself had to say about his new book...


" just like the first volume, this one is the same format of not being a traditional "how to make" book, but more of a creative field guide.  so for those of you who wished that many of the ideas i share in my videos, blog tutorials, and tag techniques were all in one place - well, that's what these books are all about.  it's also filled with new ideas, tips, and techniques and i'm so excited to finally have it finished and can't wait to share it with you!"


The beauty of a book that is not project-based, is that every time you open it up it's a fresh resource, not a 'been there, done that' kind of book that we all have on our shelves collecting dust. Tim's techniques and tips will get your creative juices flowing in new and exciting ways! Look at it as an investment in the artist in you!


So - if you want to make 2012 your most creative year yet, and want to be inspired every time you turn the page,  give Skribbles and Scraps a call and pre-order Tim's new book "A Compendium of Curiosities Volume ll." If you don't have Tim's first volume, Bob and Cathy will be happy to order that as well. It'll be the next best thing to having Tim in your craft room!


Til next year...
Sparkles!

Silent Night

Isaiah 9:6
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.


The staff at Skribbles and Scraps would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your family, peace and joy this Christmas season.  


Bob, Jennie and Cathy

Ladies - forward this to the man in your life!

Gentlemen  - first off - we want to thank you for all the support you have given to your wife over this past year in her papercrafting endeavors. Your patience when she disappears through the week to attend classes at Skribbles and Scraps, or the Friday Night Crop, is to be commended. 

You are truly wise men! You are smart enough to know that a night out playing with ink and paper is good therapy, and probably a reasonably priced one at that. 

The reality is, your wife is a lot like you. She too has "tools" that she gets excited about. Dies, punches, heat guns  (I know you have some of these in your shop!) are also words that pique the interest of the papercrafter in your house.  Though some of the names are the same, our tools just look a little bit different than your tools. And like you - she loves to get her hands dirty - but with inks! 

I know that men say that they can never have enough tools....well - we women say the same thing. So, even if all her papercrafting supplies and tools have taken over the house, or you can't move around in her craft room - trust me - she still needs more. 

So - do you want to know what will make your wife very happy on Christmas morning? The same thing that will make you happy - more tools! 

Imagine getting a gift certificate to your favourite tool store.  I know you probably already have a list of what you would buy. Well - she is no different! 

A gift certificate to Skribbles and Scraps presents endless possibilities! Maybe she will use it to buy the newest dies and punches that came into the store.  


Maybe she wants the Vagabond machine from Tim Holtz. You will appreciate this machine - it has a one horsepower motor! Talk about power! We use it with our dies. Ask her about it - it's probably on her wish list.  I know it's on mine! It's a great machine and would make an amazing gift!

Maybe she will want the new Cinch binding tool that Jennie just got in last week, or new storage solutions from Bob or more paper and bling! (I'm guessing you don't have any bling in your shop - your wife will explain what bling is!)

It's easy - just call Bob or Cathy at the store - 519-336-9730. Tell them the value of the gift certificate you would like to purchase - and they will have it ready for you when you come in to pick it up. They can keep it secret - your wife will never know!

So gentlemen - if you are reading this post - it means that the person who forwarded this to you would really love it if you gave them a gift certificate from Skribbles and Scraps for Christmas. It's a slam-dunk! 

Christmas Hours 2011

Well - we are counting down the days until Christmas. I hope you are doing better than I am - I am so far behind, that I may never catch up to Christmas 2011. Christmas 2012 is a more realistic goal some days! LOL!


If you still  need to so some Christmas shopping - here are the Christmas hours for the store:


Dec 23 - 10 - 6   no Crop night
Dec 24 - 10 - 2
Dec 25 - closed
Dec 26 - closed
Dec 27 - 10 - 6
Dec 28 - 10 - 6
Dec 29 - 10 - 6
Dec 30 - 10 - 5 no Crop night
Dec 31 - 10 - 2
Jan 1 - closed
Jan 2 - closed
Jan 3 - regular hours


Happy shopping!

Die - guys

The last time I was in Skribbles and Scraps - I noticed that Bob  and Cathy seem to have an eye - for dies! 


These two "Die -guys" - have ordered some really neat new dies. Here are a few examples. 

Great for cards or scrapbook pages. Dies for all occasions - I love the heart and the square frame!  And - there is even one for a guy-card!  That's a rare find!

So - pop in this week and see what the "Die-guys" have in store for you!

Tim would be proud!

If you have been watching Tim Holtz's blog - you have seen the beautiful tags he has been creating for his 12 Tags of Christmas.  If you have not had time - brew a cup of tea or grab a glass of wine, put your feet up  and check them out! They are packed full of technique - his creativity seems endless!


One of the tools you will often see in his pics - is the Ranger "Heat It Craft Tool". 


This is no ordinary heat gun - it is so quick and quiet! It's great for use with embossing powders - because it doesn't blow the powder off your paper like those other guns. I know - because I have replaced my old gun with this new Ranger gun. It was a smart move! It is so much easier to hold and control where I want the heat.

Here's a little trivia about this heat gun. I understand that it was out of stock for the longest time, because the company that was originally making them could no longer supply them. Another company took on the challenge - but of course everything had to be retooled - so that took time. But the outcome was great - the Ranger Heat It Craft Tool is hotter and quieter than the original gun! 


The other good news is that Skribbles and Scraps now carry them!  And leave it to Jennie - she saw the heat gun and decided it was a blank canvas, waiting to become a piece of art! Check it out - 

I think Tim would be proud! How did she do it?  Ask her when you come in to pick up your new Ranger Heat It Craft Tool. You will need to pick up the new Ranger Alcohol inks as well in your favourite colours - and you too will be ready to create your own masterpiece - a one of a kind piece of art!


Jennie has been busy playing with Tim's Alcohol Inks and she has perfected some very cool techniques.  Trust me - you'll want the Alcohol inks in every colour. Add them to your Christmas list! Hurry in while the colour selection is at it's best!

Time flies!

December 1st already! Where did November go? Does anyone else feel like life is zooming by??


Jennie has been very busy - and has the war wounds to prove it!

Yup - it's broken! What to you want to bet she was moving at warp speed at work when she did this! It figures it's her dominant hand - so she isn't able to do all she wants in her craft room.  For someone as creative as Jennie, you know that means major frustration!

Bob has been busy little elf in his workshop, coming up with more storage solutions to make your crafting life easy and organized.  

You name it - storage for paper, stickles, copics, ink pads, ribbon, smoosh spray - Bob will have a solution for you.

So - if someone has been making comments on the state of your craft room - give them your wish list - and send them to see Bob. Do it soon - Christmas will be here before you know it!

Winter 2011 (distress ink) has arrived!

I am soooooo excited!


I spoke with Jennie last night - she just got in the latest Tim Holtz product - his seasonal distress inks!


If you are not up on your Tim Holtz buzz - he has been developing some seasonal distress inks - starting with a fall series. There will not be any re-inkers for any of these series - and once they're gone, they're gone!


These new ones are the second in the series. They're a limited edition, set of 3 inks - made just for the season. Yes - the Winter 2011 Seasonal Distress Inks have just been released - the colours are fabulous and Skribbles and Scraps have them!

Evergreen bough, festive berries, and iced spruce will quickly become favourites - and I can see them being used way beyond the Christmas/winter season. 


I hate winter - but I love these new winter distress inks! Hurry into the store - quantities are limited. You can pick up a set for $15 - then spend some quality time in your craft room with a warm beverage and a little Tim.....makes the winter seem a little cozier!

There ought'a be a card for this......

The other day, I decided I could use a new pair of underwear.  ( I'm not really sure why they are referred to as a "pair" when clearly there is only one….unless it implies that my butt is so big that it really needs "a pair" to cover it....... but I digress) 

Now I have to tell you, I HATE shopping - unless it's for craft supplies, so for me, it was already bordering on a less than fun experience.  Really, is there anything worse than trying to imagine if all of you will fit into what little there is of that?

So - after agonizing over which one of the two pair I had picked out to buy, I decided to get both of them and get out of the store as soon as I could. I had already spent 30 minutes of my life that I will never get back! I quickly headed to the check-outs.

I hate it when the check-out girls hold them up before they fold them to put them in the bag, as if to wonder "Who is she kidding - she will never fit into these!" 

Grateful this experience was over, my underwear tucked securely  and discretely in my plastic store bag, I hurried out of the store....but not before I set the alarms off……you know the ones I mean - the ones that seem to scream "Stop Thief!" and everyone turns to see who tried to steal what.....

As if the whole experience had not dragged on long enough already, the male security at the door pulled my underwear out of the bag and began examining them, while the "Stop Thief!" alarm continued to sound. 

After what seemed like forever, the alarm stopped, only to have him wave the underwear at the alarm and set it off again!  This required further exam, because something about these underwear must be making the "Stop Thief!" alarm go off.  

I was mortified…..turning several shades of red…thinking - all I wanted was a pair of underwear……..plain, cotton, nothing "Hot" enough to set off any alarms! Will this ever end?

Finally security decided he was not going to figure out why my underwear set off the alarm, and he stuffed them back in the bag, let me pass through the barrier, alarms still sounding…

All I could think about as I left the store and laughed - "there ought'a be a card for this….."

Putting on the (Glitter) Ritz!

On Friday Nov 11 - Skribbles and Scraps is demoing -"Everything you always wanted to know about Glitter Ritz - but were afraid to ask!"


Glitter Ritz is not your ordinary glitter - it is a micro fine glitter that can be used in a number of very cool ways. Skribbles and Scraps has been carrying this for over a year now - and Jennie is still coming up with fresh new ways to use this fun product.


It comes in oodles of colours - 60 in all - (you will want to collect them all!) and makes your cards or scrapbook pages look very elegant.


It is so much fun to use with sookwang tape using both negative or positive images, or copics, or peel and sticks or.....well - why don't you drop into the store on Friday Nov 11 anytime between 11:00 to 2:00 and Jennie will show you just how versatile this stuff is.


Addiction warning! - once you try it - you will be looking for opportunites to use this on everything! So drop in on Friday - it's not too late to add some "Ritz" to your Christmas cards!

It's worth the drive......

I was talking to Jennie last night - she and Cathy and Sherry were in Chatham last Saturday at the annual Zonta Cardmaking Event. 


It was a sold out crowd, and the Skribbles and Scraps gang were there doing a cute little Christmas make 'n take. 72 happy card makers sat around their table and had a chance to shop at the Skribbles and Scraps booth. 


Is this not the cutest little basket? It's a Heartfelt die - made exclusively for Heartfelt by Spellbinders. It has sooooo many possibilities - Christmas, Easter, baby and bridal showers, little thank you treats for teachers, co-workers,  tags for gifts.....

Jennie said it was great to connect again with crafters they met last year - and lots of new faces - many who came from all over southwestern Ontario. 


So - for those who may be thinking - I love the little bit that I saw in the booth - but Skribbles and Scraps is way up in Sarnia - trust me - it's worth the drive to Sarnia!

Skribbles and Scraps or BUST!

So - plan a road trip - load up the car with your most fun girlfriends and head on up the road - life's too short not to make every day an adventure! You won't be disappointed!  


Check out the website for store hours - hope to see you soon!

NO TRICK OUR TREAT!

Skribbles and Scraps has decided to celebrate Halloween this year in a special way. They are usually closed on Mondays - but this Halloween they are open from 11:00 - 7:00 for NO TRICKS OUR TREAT!

Why should kids have all the fun this Halloween????? 


I am sure you crafters have been busy sewing costumes, baking treats for school and Halloween parties, running around getting treats to give out, dealing with the messy pumpkin goo....

It is time to take a break and come in for a treat - really, it's no trick!


There will be free make and takes, goodie bags, and 20% off all purchases over $50 (before HST) It is not too early to do your Christmas shopping you know!

They have lots of cool Halloween paper to frame all those cute pictures you will take of your little goblins. 


There will also be a draw for a goodie basket - one ballot per person - no purchase required.

And hey - if you want it to be really fun - you can dress up too!


See you there!

ScrapFest Oshawa 2011

 Bob and Jennie are going on a road trip!

They are gathering up paper, tools, supplies and all kinds of goodies, getting ready to go to ScrapFest in Oshawa! Check it out here!

They are looking forward to seeing old friends they met at last year's ScrapFest  - and are looking forward to meeting new friends this year. For those of you who follow the blog from the GTA, stop in and introduce yourself! 


Want to see how easy quilling is? Stop by the booth. Wondering what new creation Jennie has been working on? She will be happy to show you. 


If there is something specific you want from the store, call or email Bob or Cathy and let them know so Bob will be sure to pack it so you won't be disappointed. 


ScrapFest happens Friday Oct 14th and Saturday Oct 15th at Durham College in Oshawa. 35 plus vendors in one place - sounds like a party to me!

Someone's having a birthday!

Hi - remember us? 

We're Riley and Chassie, the really cute members of the family. 


We just wanted to let you know we are so excited because - Mom's birthday is Sunday! Yes - our mom, Jennie is going to be.....ahh...well, somewhere between 232 and 800 dog years old! She won't say - humans are so silly that way.


We hope there's cake - and maybe that cute kid Langdan will come over and he and Bob will drop cake on the floor for us!


You know, if humans were as smart as dogs, they would have 8 birthdays a year - think about it - that means 8 birthday cakes!


Anyway - we would love it if you would wish Jennie a happy birthday by clicking on the comment section below.

Calling all vintage fans

Remember those wonderful vintage La Blanche cards I blogged about last month - well, now is your chance to learn how to do them. 


On Saturday, Sept 24, from 10:30-12:30 Jennie will be doing a class where you will make two La Blanche cards. Cost for the class is only $10 -  a bargain!

So - take a few well deserved hours out of the weekend just for you, and come out and learn this easy and fabulous technique! Call Bob to reserve your spot today. 


Have a great week!

More of Bob's Storage Solutions

Apparently, Jennie and Bob have had a number of comments about the pictures of Bob's Bow Builder. First - there wasn't a really clear picture of the actual Bob's Bow Builder. So, here it is...

The next thing was how hairy Jennie's knuckles are! So - let me squash the ugly rumours - those are Bob's hairy knuckles! 


I know I said that Jennie put together a tutorial but Bob's hairy knuckles were the star! Jennie was the camera person.  Trust me, Jennie has beautiful girlie hands. LOL!


Bob's Bow Builder retails for $10. Great for those gift exchanges under $10!


Here are some other examples of Bob's storage solutions:

Bob is always accommodating - so talk to him today about your storage challenges. I'll bet he already has a solution for you!

Have a great week!

Conquering the Bow!

Show of hands please - how many of you have struggled making bows! 


Me too!!!! I love bows, but sadly, mine look pathetic. Oh - I try really hard.... and I have a couple of bow making products....but you almost need an engineering degree to figure them out. 


I have scads (is that a word???)  of ribbon just wasting away in a drawer, because a crafter can't have too much ribbon if you know what I mean! And the new Christmas ribbon is coming out, but I really can't justify buying any more when I can't use what I have because I am, sadly, "bow-challenged."


So - this week when I was in the store I finally met the answer to my bow making challenges. Three little words - Bob's Bow Builder!


I don't know if you knew this, but Bob is quite a Renaissance man - a man of many accomplishments! Not only is he knowledgeable about tools and techniques in crafting, but he is a talented woodworker! He has come up with many storage solutions for crafters, and his workmanship is excellent, with great attention to detail. Here is just one example of his work.

So, imagine my delight when he showed me his latest creation - Bob's Bow Builder. He has taken a simple concept, and created a

tool to help make teeny tiny bows, to large bows - your choice. Once he showed me how easy it was - I walked out of the store with one of my own - excited that my ribbon stash was about to be put to good use.

Jennie has put together a tutorial for using it (she and Bob are such a great team!)

1. Hold tail in left hand. (Works best when ribbon rolls off the bottom of the spool)

2. Right hand holds ribbon off the spool. Ribbon should be behind posts to start. Pull ribbon from left to right across front of posts.

3. With left hand, wrap tail around right post at back and around over top ribbon in right hand.

5. Take the tail in the left hand as above. Bring UNDERNEATH through the two posts.

6. Take ribbon in right hand and bring OVER top post to meet with other tail.

7. Tie knot with tail and ribbon from spool.

8. Remove from post. 


So crafters - get on into the store and pick one up. Bob will show you how easy it is to use! You can also make double and triple bows which look fabulous.


By the way....think Christmas - and pick up a couple of extras for Christmas gifts. Your "bow challenged" friends will love you for it!