Scrapbook Central

Sometimes

SOMETIMES

In life, sometimes we have to listen to our head instead of our heart.  Sometimes the best decision we have to make has some tough consequences.  Sometimes what is best for us is not what we want most of all.  Sometimes we have to do hard things, knowing there is no other way.  Sometimes, the best things will come after making difficult choices.  Sometimes to feel calm, you have to do something that is very painful first.   

We have done that this week.  We know that (deep in our gut and even deeper in our heart) lots of things have led us here, and we know now what we are supposed to do.  Yes, we are closing our retail storefront.  After 9 years it is time to move on with a new direction and some new challenges.  Yes, we are going to have a tough time doing it.  Yes, we will miss seeing our regular customers who have become such good friends over the years, but we hope we will continue to see them at our Crop Events as the new face of Scrapbook Central evolves.  Most definitely we will miss the fine people we have worked with over the years and our current staff are going to be bit sad too, so please be gentle with them.

The end of our lease, coupled with our inability to find suitable premises, an inflexible and costly industrial relations system, and the contracting retail market were the catalyst for our decision.  In addition, we have been unsuccessful in finding a suitable buyer to take over Scrapbook Central which is a great pity.    After nine years, its time to something else, something for us.

We have had a long year with family health issues, Bob has recently turned 60, and with another beautiful Grandbaby coming, we knew the time was right to move on. The decision did not come lightly or without lots of prayers and a few tears, but we knew this chapter in our lives was ending. You know what?  It felt right, it still feels right. We want you to be happy for us as we start this new journey.     After nine years, its time to something else, something for us.

We will continue to run Crop Retreats and Crop Days and will shortly launch our brand new website with an online store that we have been working on.  Make sure you add the new website address to your favourites once it is online.  It will take sometime to get it fully running but there will be terrific clearance bargains as we reduce stock to more manageable levels.

We are on Facebook and will continue to update the Blog and send out newsletters but you will need to re-subscribe for these on our new site.  The web address is the same but you will need to type it into your web browsers address bar (www.scrapcentral.com.au).  We will do everything we can to stay in touch and let you know our future events and plans, so please spread the word about the new website and estore in your travels.

So you get to be happy as well, we will be selling lots and lots of our stock at crazy prices and will also be clearing some of our furniture, fittings & equipment; including workroom chairs, tools, supplies and odds n ends – so lets us know if you are interested in anything.  

Our last Technique Tuesday will be held on Tuesday October 4^th and our last Cardology Workshop will be on October 6^th.  Sadly we will not be having another Midnight Madness before closing.  Our last day of trading at 6 Onslow Place will be on Saturday October 15^th when we will close the doors for the last time as a retail outlet.

Our Retreat to Swanleigh at the end of October is definitely going ahead, as this is part of our new direction, and we have lots planned for this weekend of creativity and fun. 

As an aside, if you think you want to buy the best scrapbooking shop in Perth, our business, then be quick so we can help you find and move into new premises. Please, only serious parties at this time, we will be so busy with our end of lease commitment that we can not waste precious time.

Thank you for letting us share our passion for scrapbooking and paper-crafting to record all the important things in life with you.  We are truly grateful for your loyalty, enthusiasm, and friendship.   

Kindest regards

Ruth & Bob Sprague

 

Don't ya just love the internet?

You know how it is, you go from one blog to another, then a link from that somewhere else and in a blink 2 hours have just slipped through your fingers - yes I can see some of you nodding.  Today in my post work cuppa time, I came across this lovely idea from a blog I {heart} naptime ( Don't ya just Lurve that title too?) and thought this is just an amazing idea for us as scrapbookers and I wanted to share it with you. Of course the bonus was that the lovely owner of this blog provided a free downloadable - so Thank you to Miss Jamielyn.  Of course school goes back in the USA in September mostly, but for us, you will need to file this away safely for the new year, or what the heck print one off and grab a photo of your kids now.          While you are there go and check out her blog, some lovely decorating ideas and she sounds like a fun person.  Whatever you are doing, I hope all is well in your little corner of the world.   Oh yeah and go the Bombers!

mmm, neglected, abandoned and forgotten?

Well the blog seems to think so!  It has been over a month since I updated the blog, I could offer up lots of excuses but in the end it doesn't really matter, here it is being updated and that is a start.  We do have a facebook page as well, so if you are not already following us on facebook, perhaps you could by clicking here and then the like button, the facebook page does get updated more often.   Bob & I are currently working on a new website complete with, yep wait for it, especially our beautiful out of Perth clients and on-line store.  This has been in the plan for some time, we had to find the right designer that didn't either want us to take a 2nd mortgage on our house or our arms and legs.  We are hopeful of having that live this month.    The 'joy' of owning a large scrapbook store is all those images have to be loaded into the store, oh bliss!    We have had some new items into store this week, these came in after the newsletter went out last week, so here are some little goodies that I know you will love.

 This great storage container from the wonderful people at Artbin, just the thing for your Cricut cartridges. holds up to16 cartridges, and the inserts do come out as well.

   How awesome is this travel album?  We only got the one in but have 3 on back order and hope to have those in a few weeks.  Postbound and refillable. Yep gotta love that.  This style also comes in Baby Boy, Baby Girl, Family and Wedding. 

How great are these Paris stickers, 3d and such detail ?

 

We have so many clients doing dance and sport albums that we couldn't resist these great new stickers

           

And these great Nestabilities dies from Spellbinders, not only for cardmakers but fantastic for Scrapbooking, great journal size and embellishment features.  Works in both Cuttlebugs and Big Shots.
  

and this embossing folder set from Sizzx, don't you just love the always and forever on this and how dang cute is that little scallop border?

 

and something to store not only nesties but your embossing folders.   I was so excited to be given one by Kim for my birthday that I knew we had to source them and get them into the store. It will store up to 40! They have a zip around closure so that your folders are kept safe and we also have magnetic A4 sheets ready to cut down for easy storing of your Nestie andother metal thin dies.       All this organistaion will be so handy for our next retreat in October.  Another post about that later today.    Keep the CHOGM weekend free for scrapping, just sayin!

Do you have Military photos to scrap, or someone in the service?  We recently ordered in this album for a client and wanted to share it with you as well, we will not have this in the store as a standing stock line but very happy to order it in for you. $22.55 each.


Don't forget to try and find 30 this week, 30 minutes for your scrapbooking, it will be one of the best 30 minutes you spend. 

Fan flippin fabtastic

That is my description of these little storage items by Tim Holtz. Simply cannot wait to get these babies. I know that so many of you were bummed that the tin storage line Tim had a few years back was discontinued (a cost thing from memory) and we still get calls from people looking for them.  There are two items in the line, the CARGO case and the Trinket case.  Both are available for preorder now and are due into store around middle of September, which the way the year is flying will not be all that long.  More information on these can be found on Tim's blog, so just click here and you can see how much stuff Tim has put in these fan flippin fabtastic storage items. If you want to place a preorder, let us know, a $20 (non refundable) deposit is all you need to secure your little piece of Timmy creative goodness.   I can see some great fun in altering up these as well.  GUess what I think Bobbie might get for Father's Day ??  Yoooo Hoo, bring on September.  

TRINKET CASE pre order price is $30.00 price after preorder closes (August 7th) $37.00.  DImensions are 7 3/4 x 6 1/4 , height 3 3/4 and open 16 3/4 (all in inches)

 

CARGO CASE pre order price $41.00  Price after pre-order closes (August 7th) $52.00  Dimensions are 13 3/4 x 7, height 7 1/2 and open 25 1/2, again all in inches.

 

NINE - when did that happen?

In July 2002 we opened our doors in Mercer Lane Joondalup and have been having great scrapping times since then.  Nine years? really?  WOW!  Some of our early customers have moved interstate, overseas and we don't see them so much now but we really appreciate the start they gave us and the ongoing support and love our our current customers, staff and friends.   A lot has happened in 9 years, the industry is changing, manufacturers come and go and so some days does our scrapping MOJO. 

To celebrate our 9th year in buisness, we think we should have an all day crop - All those in favour?   Yes we thought you would, well Saturday 16th July, 10am to 10pm  $15 per person, includes morning tea and of course the usual great day of fun, laughter,scrapping, prizes and presents.      So if you haven't been for awhile, come on in and say hello on the day, even if you can't come and scrap.  Nine?  really?  Wow!

Look what have been playing with

These most amazing doily dies, that work in your Cuttlebug or Big Shot - so intricate and the possibilities for these on cards, layouts and off the page stuff is endless. Already sold a few and stock was limited, but we will reorder asap. $36.50 each.  

   

Pre stocktake bargains

We are getting ready to NOT count as much as possible in 10 days time - so come and grab a bargain from our clearancetable in the front of the store. Today we decided to sell our store DEMO machine of the Cricut CREATE - we have probably only used this machine 3-5 times, as we also have an Expression and baby cricut we demo with. So you can get a practically new Cricut Create, for only $399. (it has a box, instruction manuals, cords, but NO mat and NO cartridge). There are no scraphappy rewards for any of our clearance bargains. First in - best scrapping!

The Cricut Create™ Personal Electronic Cutter combines the portability of the original Cricut® machine with the functionality of the Cricut Expression® machine. The Cricut Create machine is the same size as the original Cricut machine, yet it allows cuts from 0.25" up to 11.5" on a 6" x 12" cutting mat. The machine also includes an eight-way directional blade, Portrait mode (to cut taller images), Fit to Page mode (to cut the largest cut possible), Auto Fill mode (to mass produce cuts), Center Point function, and Flip function. An improved display screen and sleek design add greater style and convenience.

Camp over,countdown to Purple Bray Day is on.

An Absolutely fun filled weekend at Yanchep for our annual themed 3 day retreat/camp. Alice in Scrappyland was colourful and such a hoot. Here are just some pics. Just click on anyone to see it larger in a new window.   We made a great mini album, but there are so many great photos I am not sure I have enough pages now!

 
 
 

Now it is onto the fun day we have planned to celebrate Purple Bra Day. It will be at the store on Friday June 17th, you can come anytime from 3pm, of course those of you who can't get there at that time can come when you can, we will finish at Midnight. Cost is $15.00 per person and proceeds will go to the cause. There will be some door prizes up for grabs, and a fun auction of products and services. Grab a few friends and come along, but be quick booking in, we can only take 35. Sadly, this year Breast Cancer Care Wawere unable to secure a sponsor for the old/used bras, so we won't be having 'trade in a bra' and filling the clothesline in the store with them.  I simply can not believe that there was not a company in Perth who could sponsor this, I mean where the hell are Rio Tinto,Coles, Woolies, Bunnings, or Gina Rinehart when you need them?   But even though we can't fill the store with bras we will still have a great night raising some much needed funds for a great cause.

 

How hard can it be?

To get a blog post done, I mean really in the scheme of things it should be easy, but for some reason it has just kept getting harder and harder.  Those of you we see often in the store will know we have been busy with the our youngest who contracted Guillain-Barre Sydnrome and is still in hospital, but now able to get a day release and get about on some crutches, and come home for one of Mum's roast dinners.   We are waiting on a placement at Shenton Park Rehab hospital and he has started his Physical therapy programme at Joondalup. It is going to be a long road to recovery, but we have faith and the love and blessings of family and friends and for that we are very grateful.  So that is probably one reason why it has been hard to blog.  As a good scrapbooker I have taken the odd photo during this process because life is not all birthday cakes and parties, we need to scrap the tough stuff as well.  I do hope you are finding time to scrapbook or to do what I am doing at the moment, taking photos and thinking about scrapbooking them.   

National Scrapbooking Day was a fun day at the store and some great pages were scrapped, prizes won and some bargains were had as well as some new techniques learnt.  Midnight Madness is this Friday night so as the weather has turned definitely more 'scrapbookie' why not come out and join us?  Also coming up on Friday 17th June is our Supercrop for Purple Bra Day, for Breast Cancer WA.  We had a real hoot last year and raised serious money and we look forward to that again.  The day starts at 2.30pm and goes to Midnight!  More information via our newsletter which should go out over the weekend and Bob will highlight some of the products that arrived from the USA this week. The new pink paislee, one word - divine.

Getting very excited that our annual themed camp is only 10 days away. What bliss, 3.5 days of fun, scrapping, good food, laughter and a fun theme of Alice in Scrappyland.  There are 30 scrappers going and we are just hanging in there for that.   Been very busy with projects and props and packing kits etc, perhaps another reason it has been hard to blog?

Here are some dates for you:

June 17th - Purple Bra Day Supercrop

August 13-14 - Creative retreat (Swanleigh)

August 28th - City to Surf and Crop day

 

A quick update on National Scrapbooking Day

 
In Store Demos:

10.00am - Using Border Punches - tips and tricks for this must have tool in your scrapping arsenal.

11.30am - Collections new product overview, and a little make n take as well!

12.30 - Cuttlebug - Demonstration - some great tips and tricks to share and a Fatastic hour long special on the machine, alphabets and all our accessories.

2.00pm - Using the XBox - the best little adhesive applicator in the business

3.00pm - The ECLIPS - come and watch this great new machine as Debbie puts its through its paces. 

For our Supercrop attendees - Yes there is still room for a couple more - 9.30am to 9.30pm. $25, includes a goody bag, morning & Afternoon Teas, some FANTASTIC in store hourly specials exlcusive to you, and of course the best scrapping place in Perth.

10.30am - Dusty Attic Make n Take - Jennifer from Dusty Attic will be joining us for a launch of her new products.

4.30pm - Using Screens, masks & Glimmermist

6.30pm - Making a Paper rose or 2.