I’m always anxious to see what new lines Basic Grey has coming out and have been obsessively {who, me, obsessive?} checking their site and blog to see the new releases for CHA Summer 2009. Finally, they are here! See all the new BASIC GREY on the blog post HERE. As always, Kelly did such a great job designing layouts and projects to show off BG to it’s absolute best. I love her scrapping style.
Here is a quick look at each new line. If you click on the bolded name above each pic, you can see the line in all it’s glory on the Basic Grey website.
I haven’t been able to say this in a long time, because my relationship with Basic Grey has been rocky in recent years, but … I LOVE THEM ALL!! As in LOOOOOVVVVEE and will NEED to have some of each. I’m sure MEMORY WORKS will get some of the new BG the quickest and, yes, I will be ordering me summa that! Yay, totally made my day. THIS is the Basic Grey I love and I’m so glad that it’s back.
Yippy skip! My latest MEMORY WORKS order arrived last weekend. They always send things in these 13×13 boxes with lots of padding so nothing gets crushed or bent. That’s one thing I really like. This is a mix of items for myself, and things I’m going to sell.
Here’s a bunch of Cosmo Cricket cardstock stickers, rub-ons, and the free Cosmo Cricket tie I got from Memory Works as a promotional item.
Finally! I got some BO BUNNY “ABBY ROAD.” Ever since I saw THIS layout by Chrispea, I’ve been wanting some. I’m totally going to scraplift that.
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And then there’s BO BUNNY “CALYPSO” for all those fun summer layouts. We have a pool, we go to the lake and the ocean all summer, and we barbeque a lot. This looks like the perfect line for me, don’t you think?
This is the back side and closer look at two of the papers. These especially rock, in my opinion.
This is the cover sheet thingee from the CRATE PAPER “BLUE HILL” theme set {oops, no linkee, it’s already sold out! you gotta’ move quick around here, LOL}. I just luuuurve this color combination. Have you ever seen Crate Paper in person? It is THE best quality patterned paper. It’s cardstock thick and has a slight texture to it. It feels so luxurious…ROWR…
You get two of each paper and I alternated both sides so you can see them both. For instance, from the left, there are two sheets of that paper with the teal/peach pattern on one side and the solid teal on the other.
Here is the rest of the stuff I got in this special “retreat” pack, i.e. leftover class kits or things sold at the Memory Works retreat in June 2009. This was a great deal…all this Crate Paper stuff in one pack for $17.50.
This was also a special from the MW retreat…a birthday card set from the BASIC GREY “CUPCAKE” line. I’m going to offer them as make-n-takes at my crop. {No linkee here either, already sold out. Sheesh, glad I ordered when I did!}
And now my whining about not having any COSMO CRICKET “EARLY BIRD” will cease because it now holds it’s rightful place in my stash. Sweeeeeet!
This the front side of the papers in the theme set….
…and this is the back side of those same papers.
This is the Early Bird ELEMENTS and STICKERS. I got 2 of everything ~ 1 for me, 1 to sell. Again, loving the color combo, and those cherries are so stinkin’ cute. I’ve seen lotsa inspiration on various blogs for how to use this line and I can’t wait to get started.
It’s like Christmas in July, I tell ya’. What’s funny is I get the same amount of joy from receiving the items I’m going to keep and those I’m going to sell to customers. I don’t mind selling products that I have in stock and may really love … but I get to touch them first ;-)
I went to a crop Saturday, the one I talked about HERE. Only 4 of us ended up being able to go. I talked more than I cropped, and we stopped to eat twice (lunch/dinner) so I didn’t get much done. I completed 5 pages and started a 6th, and I was there from about 11:30 to 9. One thing I did different this time is that I promised myself I would get the journaling done AT the crop. I can’t tell you how many unfinished layouts are sitting on my desk from past crops, that were done, they “just need the journaling.” Ya’ got any of those on your desk? I mean, they’re, like, 30 minutes of effort away from being in a scrapbook for everyone to enjoy and yet…they’re on my desk. Why is journaling something I put off? I really do like to write, it’s not that. It’s like I lose my mojo to work on that layout once I leave the crop. But anyhow, that’s why I forced myself to journal these layouts and I’m glad I did. They are going straight into the album, baby!
Another new thing I tried was a technique that’s been around awhile but I’m always late to the party. I had a white Bazzill background, and I laid out the title of my layout with letter stickers (a block style of cardstock sticker alpha by American Crafts; $1 from Big Lots, LOL!). Then I went over the title in a circular motion with deep turquoise chalk ink by Martha Stewart (it’s just like the kind by COLORBOX). Then I removed the stickers and, voila! The white Bazzill showed through the turquoise ink and it looks rad. The only problem was some bleeding around about three of the letters, but it’s not that noticeable. At least, that’s what my sweet crop friends told me, LOL! I learned my lesson, though…make sure those suckers are stuck down pretty well before you rub the ink on. I like this technique so much, I used it again when I started that 6th layout. I used a different kind cardstock alpha sticker, made sure the letters were stuck down really good, and it came out great.
The Memory Works “party” part of it didn’t work out because, like me, everyone is broke, LOL! The hostess ordered some things and I’m going to split shipping with her and throw in something with her order. I can’t decide….the new Basic Grey ‘Junebug’ or ‘Lemonade’ (see them HERE and HERE), or Little Yellow Bicycle ‘Traveler’ (which I shared HERE). Tough decision. If you could get something from these lines, what would you get?
I’ve also been eyeing this for a while…THE COTTAGE Theme Set by Scrap Within Reach, which is a company that’s new to me and I have nothing of theirs yet. I’m curious what the quality is like/what it’s like in person. I love the colors and it seems a very versatile set to work with. And the price is good ~ you get six 12×12 sheets of double-sided patterned cardstock paper for $5.75, so less than a dollar a sheet for double-sided cardstock PP…not bad.
I just posted all the new BG ‘Lemonade’ stuff that’s now being carried by Memory Works HERE. Now, I want to show you ‘Junebug’ by Basic Grey, which we also just got in stock. {To place an order, please click on the bold product name}.
HERE is some inspiration from the Basic Grey website.
My favorite things in this line are the Woolies and the Alpha Stickers. Oh, and that Navy Doilie is sooooo pretty! Did you see the dogs in the Chip Sticker Shapes? The pink poodle is especially cute.
I think my favorite products are the “doilies” papers; love the intricate cut outs. Also, the Take Note die cut transparencies with the backing. Such a unique product…don’t think I’ve seen anything like that before.
What are your thoughts on this new line from BG – like or no like?
I first heard talk of this line in THIS post at 2peas. So, I popped over HERE to check it out. I was quite confused because so much of it looks to me EXACTLY like something JENNI BOWLIN already has or something she would design. I assumed Jenni partnered with MAKING MEMORIES to design this line, but I searched around their website and blog and could find no mention of such. So, yeah, kinda’ weird to me that MM would be allowed to make a line that looks SO similar to another designer/company but that’s just me, I guess. No one else on the thread commented on it being a concern to them (but one Pea told me that Jenni does not work for MM, which I knew).
Anyhoo, the rumor is {this has not been confirmed, as far as I know} that MICHAELS has an exclusive deal with MM to sell Vintage Findings now (June 2009), then the line will be released to the LSSs in the fall. Which, if I were an LSS, would tick me off and make me not order it because by the time the LSSs receive it, it will be “old news” to scrapbook shoppers. That’s probably all by design and I know companies like Making Memories are doing whatever they can to survive in this economy but it still makes you feel kinda’ icky, doesn’t it?
This issue came up before when BASIC GREY did exclusives with Michaels and the paper stacks for lines like Urban Prairie (one of my favorite BG lines evah!). You can read about it HERE. I know that many LSS owners, and LSS supporters like myself, were pretty upset by the BG development because “How dare they dis the LSS like that ?!?!?” I guess I finally came to peace with it for these reasons: 1. Those of us without LSS’s anymore can still easily buy it, and 2. If it comes down to it, I believe in whatever measures it takes to keep the SB companies in business. But I know it ain’t pretty, folks. One positive I can point out is that, to my knowledge, this kind of thing doesn’t happen all that often. I can only think of these 2 instances in the past year or so. Someone please correct me if I’m wrong.
Anyway, here are a couple quick photos of the items they had at my Mike’s. They were taken with a stealth iPhone, so as usual, please forgive the quality. At least at you get the idea, right?
See those little crystal-topped stick pins in the top photo ?? {HERE’s a link….stupid MM website won’t let me copy the photo}. Those reminded me of an online AMR friend, so I bought them and she’ll be receiving them in the mail soon. I love scrap friends!
Okay, all that said and please don’t shoot! But I’m not a fan of this line. Some of the papers are cute ~ I like the map ones ~ but I guess I’m not a true vintage girl because I can’t see myself using these things on my pages to a large enough degree that I’d buy a whole pack of the findings. A few of them were cute – the labels and stick pins come to mind – but overall, my review is … Eh. I thought things like tickets and simple labels were overpriced (you could make them or buy them on Etsy or at an office supply store for a lot less). But I know there are a lot of you true Vintage Girls out there who will really like it. There were many on that 2peas thread who were totally in love and buying it up like crazy. That’s the beauty part…to each their own in scrapbooking. There’s something for everyone.
What do you think of the Vintage Findings line by Making Memories? And what do you make of the Michaels exclusive on it?
I had the opportunity to do some shopping in The Big City, as I had a fun Girls Weekend at the beach and, what do you know, I had to drive through civilization to get there. Here’s my shopping report:
On Clearance at Mike’s: Prima flower milk jars($6.99 down to $2.99), and Making Memories 8×8 paper pad, Travel. See those cream colored flowers in the bottom left of the photo? I had those in my hand. They went on a quite a walk around the store with me. I had layout ideas in my head on which I would use them.
But I put them back on the shelf when I found this. Ah, paper punches on Clearance! Wow, that worked out nicely….with the photos stacked on top of each other, I almost matched them up, didn’t I? These were on an end cap, where our Mike’s now has a lot of scrap clearance these days.
Here is the punch I bought: Regularly $14.99, marked down to $7.99, and with my 40% coupon, it cost me just over $5. Did I get a great deal or what? Sounds like 66% off to me! Isn’t it cute, how it does the zigzag edge, which reminds me of Bazzill’s specialty cardstock…now I can make it myself. This punch not only punches the zigzag shape, it also embosses a dotted line, adding the perfect detail. I’m so happy I got it!
My other purchase from Michaels, a bling title that says “Beach.” This is perfect for the title of my Girls Weekend layout. I’m going to title it “Beach Girls”.
Remember, I told you HERE that my last LSS (still, it’s 45 minutes away) sent out an e-mail that they need help through the summer and, hopefully, they would not have to close in the fall. So I paid a little visit, didn’t I?
ETA: Chris commented about Sass Lass and MME being at Michaels so I’m going to clarify here….everything below here was from my LSS, except the clipboards which are from Wallie World ~ I wrote this post at 1am so I wasn’t very clear :)
Here is a predone layout I bought. Number one, I love it…the Love title, the white puff paint dots around the scallops, and the Basic Grey line that was used, which I happen to have plenty of, I’m going to make a companion page to go with this. From the 50% off table, so I paid about $3 for it.
Here are some bee-you-tiful papers I got from My Minds Eye. Love, love, LOVE scalloped edges.
Here is a sheet of Flair Designs paper. I like how you can cut it apart for use on your pages.
Here’s some more goodies. The back of one of the MME (My Mind’s Eye) sheets, Basic Grey “Offbeat” chipboard stickers, some journal and title spots from MME, and a great deal on a ribbon pack (50% off).
Finally, may I share a whole lotta’ Sass Lass love? Yep, these were also on the clearance table, and only cost me $2.49…wait, no! Half off of $2.49 would be about $1.25 each, or $5 for all four.
Oh, not “finally!” I forgot to show you the clipboards I got from Walmart. I’m going to alter them, and use them in my home office. They cost under $1 each…
“Thank you for watching. This has been Scrapbook Obsession reporting from inside Scrapbook World.”
Did you know that Michaels now carries THE SLICE? Yep, I saw it there myself. No, I’m really not making it up. It was NOT some mirage I conjured up, it was really there. Uh huh. Oddly, it was not with the scrapbooking section. A whole stand alone display was kind of near the front of the store near some home dec stuff and candles. I didn’t look too closely since I’m not shopping for one, but all the accessories and cards were there, too. I don’t know how their prices compare. And, no, of course you cannot use your coupons on anything with the word “Slice” in it. If Mike’s is selling it for the same price as everywhere else and you can’t use a coupon on it, I’d just as soon buy it from an LSS or online store. Just sayin’…
There was also a mess of new patterned papers, by the sheet, although the prices were totally RIDONCULOUS. I saw Basic Grey, Making Memories, We R Memory Keepers, SEI, Creative Imaginations, and others. The Peas are talking about it HERE. The papers are on sale this week so it’s a good time to check out the new ones. Then again, even with the discount, your LSS may have it cheaper. A great place to online shop is at my friend Stacey’s store, ALL MOMENTS REMEMBERED. She’s been getting in a lot of new stuff lately and if you don’t see what you’re looking for, just ask and she will do her darndest to get it for you. She has the cutest warehouse guys, too!
Speaking ofMAKING MEMORIES, read HERE for some sad news about one of their most popular designer/instructors. I know it’s another sign of the times but that doesn’t make it any less depressing, does it?
Isn’t this a fun paper pack?? I picked it up at Tuesday Morning….retails for $19.99, I paid $5.99.
“CELEBRATION” by American Crafts
Then I used last week’s 40% Michaels coupon on this:
“URBAN PRAIRIE” by BASIC GREY
And I got the D-RING ALBUM on the far right in 12×12 navy leather from Beverly’s Craft Store with a 40% off coupon….
I needed it for a School Days album. I was pretty pleased with myself…got $65 worth of schwag for about $38, I don’t usually spend this much in one day on such big items. It’s usually more like 40% off a $3.99 embellie pack but hey. So, do you think the employees of these stores see me coming? Miss Won’t Shop Without a Coupon, Sale, or Discounted Price? I wonder if I’m their worst nightmare or their sweetest dream? Do you shop {stingy} like me? Ha! I’m laughing all the way to the Scrap Bank.
First off, I’m so sorry for not writing as often as I used to. I think you all know I went back to work full-time in September, as I’ve bitched and moaned about it quite a lot. Well, on top of that, I’m taking on additional transcription work from home in the evenings. So, I’m here at the computer, still lurking my favorite message boards, posting here and there when I can take a little “me break” but for the most part….working. I will try to find a solution to this annoying problem soon, so I can start paying more attention to my baby, little miss Scrapbook Obsession. I constantly have ideas percolating in my head that I want to write about/tell you about and it’s so frustrating not to have the time to post!
Okay, now, I was just curious what all you Scrappy Ladies were asking Scrap Santa for this year? If you’re like me, your everyday scrap spending has had to take a cut recently so holidays are your new best friends. Bring on Christmas and birthdays, yee haw! So I’ll show you mine if you show me yours…hehe…
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Dear Scrap Santa,
If you bring me any or all of the following items this Christmas, I promise to be nicer to peoplebuy coffee for the person behind me at Starbuckswalk old ladies across the street donate blood oh crap, I’m not gonna’ lie, Santa. I’ll be the same ol’ girl I’ve always been. But I would really like these items anyway.
All my love,
~Erika
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A HOME ACCENTS cartridge for my baby bug (Cricut machine)
Look, Santa, at all the cool shapes it will do. I can make my own cool wallies and not have to pay those exorbitant prices the stores charge.
Huge slab of CORE’DINATIONS CARDSTOCK….it’s got a colored core in a coordinating color. I haven’t gotten to play with any yet, and do you really think that’s fair, Santa? Yeah, me either….
Anything from THIS website, Basic Grey. Seriously, anything. Anything at all. HERE is my favorite collection they ever did; if you can find anymore Motifica on this green earth, I will take it. Oh, and Bazzill sheets to match, please….
Any PINK PAISLEE goodies would be most appreciated. I have some Vintage Moon pieces that I got in a kit, and I love it. But must. have. more. For instance, me likey this. Me likey a lot….
And subscriptions to all the scrapbooking magazines, since I can no longer use my Mike’s coupon on them: Creating Keepsakes, Memory Makers, and Scrapbooks Etc. Pretty pleeeeeese….
Okay, I will force myself to stop there. Even though I also want some Nestabilities and a Cuttlebug. But it’s your turn. What is on YOUR list for Scrap Santa this year?
First off, don’t miss the MIKE’s COUPONS BELOW…just scroll on down past this entry. K, thanks!
Crud! I was all ready to turn the computer off since we’re headed out of town at oh-dark-thirty tomorrow morning. But then I saw this new BG and I couldn’t wait until after the holiday to tell you about it!
The colors are much like BLUSH, don’t you think? I’m not a huge fan of this type of big, strong patterns. I like their more subtle designs better. I won’t be buying the whole pack of Bittersweet, maybe a sheet or two plus all of the solids. Can’t get enough BG solids. What do you think? Will you be rushing out to buy some Bittersweet?
But, yeah, this lovey-dovey stuff isn’t really my style anyway. I don’t do many of those mushygushy, oh how I love you honey layouts. Mine and DH’s relationship is better summed up by this quote from our man, HOMER SIMPSON:
“Marge, we’re gettin’ some drive thru and doin’ it twice!” Yeah, now THAT’s true romance…
Just a quick post about this, because it’s a HOT TOPIC over at 2peas. It’s what I used my 40% COUPON on the other night.
I think it’s so cool that KELLY GOREE (from Basic Grey) is a Pea, and I admire how she handles herself over there. HERE’s a blog post where she talks about how important PEA-ing has been to her. You’re a talented designer and a class act, Miss Kelly…
Here is a better photo of it, than the blurry one in my LAST POST…
And Kelly Goree with Basic Grey just posted this over at 2peas:
“Mistletoe and Pear is an exclusive line to M’s. It will only be available in a paper pack and there will be no embellishments (chipboard, buttons, brads, stickers, etc.) available for this line. From what I understood, this line wasn’t to be displayed at M’s until their Thanksgiving sale. That might explain why some of you are finding it and some are not. Technically, no one should have it just yet.”
So I guess, technically, I was very lucky my Mike’s doesn’t read their corporate memos very closely, LOL. {Actually, the manager there is a MAN and we know they don’t cotton much to reading directions}. But I wanted you to know that if you aren’t finding it in your store, that’s why. Hang in there for their Thanksgiving sale…see the amazing ad HERE and HERE. Supposedly, Michaels will be open from 6-9pm on Thanksgiving night. In the meantime, maybe THIS coupon will make you feel better?
I’m notorious for complaining about the lack of “new stuff” at Michaels, right? Yeah, I know, whine and complain, it’s what I do. Mama always told me, “If you’re good at something, stick with it.” But blow me down, I have to actually give Mike some props for all the new shizzle they got goin’ on these days. It was to the point where I wasn’t even !GASP! spending my coupons there every week because there just. wasn’t. anything. But my fine friends over at 2peas started posting about spying new stuff at Mike’s HERE.
So Friday night after work, I went by the Mike’s in my town to see what I could see. I was Stealth Girl for ya again and took some pix with my iPhone {sorry for the poor quality…it was the best I could do}.
In that Designer Scrapbooking section in the front of the scrapbook area, here is what I found….buncha new K&Co. and MAMBI Christmas stuff. This is 2 sides of the carousel; the other end and opposite side had all the Christmas stuff by Martha Stewart. I don’t like her stuff, so I’m not showing you, nanner nanner. If you must, you can see some of it HERE.
Sorry, those hugamic glitter snowflakes do absolutely nothing for me. But the rest of it was pretty dang cool. I restrained myself from buying yet another pack of shaped/die cut papers, tho’ the K&Co. Christmas ones were mighty tempting. I was so very well-behaved…I used my 40% coupon on one of these:
And I got the K&Co. rub-ons with the Christmas tree in the top left of the top photo. Also, the MAMBI green word JOLLY in the third photo.
Yep, that was all. Even though I had just sold my Clip It Up and all my non-Bazzill cardstock on Craigslist, and had a buttload of cash in my pocket. No, don’t be too proud of me. I knew I was doing more shopping on Sunday, so I wanted to save some of it. My friend, ABBY aka ScrapbookFrenzy, told me about some bargains she found at TUESDAY MORNING which just happens to be in The Big City where I do my Costco shopping, and right next door to another Michaels, the one that usually has all the new stuff when my Mike’s has just a taste of it. So today I hit those two mamma jammas. At Tuesday Morning, they had as promised a bunch of Making Memories stuff. All I got were two 12×12 K&Co. albums for $7 each (I get two of any albums I will use for our yearly family album, as I feel the need to scrap every single photo ever taken, and therefore need two albums per year). Again, I didn’t SPEND $14, I SAVED over $25 {stick with me, kid, I’ll show you how it’s done…}. They are really pretty, with embossed covers, subtle colors, the raised frame window on the cover, and a space where you can spell out your family name or whatever you want. If anyone wants to see a photo, leave me a comment and I’ll get one posted. But it’s almost 1am and I have to get up at 6 o’clock. Who invented mornings and jobs anyway?
At The Big City Michaels, here is what I found…
The American Crafts cardstock I’ve been hearing so much about. It comes in the cool cardboard vertical holders, so you don’t even have to unpack it when you get home, just throw on the shelf. But be careful and pick one from the bottom of the pile…I noticed the ones on top had had their corners rifled through so many times, they were looking a bit shabby.
Here is a crappy, blurry picture of the Basic Grey Christmas paper pad (got me summa that) and a gorgeous Christmas pad by My Minds Eye. I already have several of those papers from page kits I bought last year, so I passed. But it was very pretty. If you’re looking for something classy and subtle to make your Christmas cards with, I would recommend the MME stack.
Here are the calendar kits by MAMBI (left) and Basic Grey (right). I so wanted both of them. I literally picked up and put down the BG kit THREE times. It is so freakin’ adorable. Oh, I {heart} Basic Grey! I liked the smaller size too. The MAMBI one was cool because it’s 12×12 spiral bound so it could be kept on your shelf kind of like an album when the year is over. The colors are bright and cheerful, a calendar project I’m sure your kids would enjoy doing with you or making for Gramma and Grampa..
There was a Bazzill cardstock pack in Christmas colors that I also had in my hot little hands, but when I compared the price to the AC cardstock, it was much more expensive (if I’m remembering right, it was the same price but you got half as much??). The quality of the AC seemed comparable, so I got it instead. If you’ve tried both AC and Bazzill cardstock, let me know how you think they compare, okay? I used my 50% off newspaper coupon and my 50% receipt coupon, so I didn’t spend $20, I SAVED $20. That’s what I told DH anyways…
And of course, while in The Big City, I went to Barnes and Noble…got my December CK and a cool mag about making scrapbook photo albums. I skimmed through it tonight while watching Kung Fu Panda with the fam, and I really liked it. Read more about it HERE {psst…but don’t order it from CK; their customer service *sux*…}.
So those were my shopping adventures. If you’ve been avoiding Mike’s lately like I have, you should go check it out…you’ll be pleasantly surprised :)
You’ve probably heard me say a million or so times how much I love BASIC GREY. And I recently did THIS POST about their Granola and Urban Prairie paper pads being carried exclusively at Michaels. Well, after reading THIS post at 2peas and other MB posts, I caved and bought them both. I’ve actually been scrapping a lot lately (vs. my usual ‘scrapbook supply collecting,’ an activity I’ve perfected), so I didn’t feel too awful guilty about buying yet more patterned paper. Yeah, that’s me, the PAPER SLUT…
So, I bought the BG paper pads the other day and love them both; one has such a pretty color combo (pink, black, white, yellow and teal) and the other will be great for men/boy layouts (blues and browns). They retail for $20; I used my 50% off coupon for one and paid full price for the other (gawd, when was the last time I paid full price for a big ticket item….nopers, can’t remember! but there were only 3 of each and I couldn’t bear to miss out). Of course, this week all Mike’s paper pads went on sale for 40% off. I heard through the scrapvine that you could take your receipt in and get reimbursed for the difference. That’s like, what?, 8 bucks. Yep, worth it. I went in to Mike’s tonight with THIS WEEK’s 50% off coupon, browsed the store, and ended up with some Archival Mist. You know, one of those “you need it and it’s very expensive, so a coupon is great, but you’d rather spend it on something more sexy” kind of item. I also got some ‘sexy’ ceramic glue to repair my little green ceramic cross that broke (that’s some kinda really bad sign, right?). I looked at the Cricut cartridges that are on such a great sale this week, but didn’t want any of them badly enough to justify the bucks.
At the register, I asked about the refund and the manager told me, yes, they would refund the difference but I needed to bring the item in with me. Which I hadn’t. She was very apologetic and said she was sorry I had to come all the way back, and I’m like, “Oh yeah, I really hate coming here, it’s my least favorite store in the whole world. Oh…No….Please don’t make me come back again!” and she and checker boy (yes, a boy!) laughed at me. Just another positive customer service exchange for me…or turning lemons into lemonade, however you wanna look at it.
One last story before I go….I delivered a couple orders tonight after work (I’m a consultant for MEMORY WORKS). One delivery entailed dropping something at the office of my friend *J*, who happens to be a doctor. She had ordered a Basic Grey MAGNETIC MAT.
Her office was just closing as I arrived…I assume it was one of her nurses that was putting down the window blinds, etc. So I start handing her this kinda large, black item with a metal ruler, all encased in hard plastic and she kind of backs up and is hesitant to grab it. Then she slowly reached for it, turned it all around and studying it like I had just handed her an instrument of medieval torture or something. I said, “This is for *J*. She ordered it from me,” and she goes, “Uhhhhh…..okaaayyyy.” Gosh I wish I knew what verbage was running through her mind! Suffice to say, she couldn’t have been a scrapbooker and I’m sure she thought I was some crazy lady. It all made me wonder if *J* has not come out of he closet and told her employees that she’s a {GASP!} scrapbooker? I just thought that was a funny little moment. I live in this scrapper vacuum and think everyone ‘gets’ it, because I spend most of my online and IRL time with friends who are scrappers (um, yeah, sad but true). Sometimes I need to be reminded that the entire cotton pickin’ world is not inhabited with scrapbookers; instead, most have no idea what in the heck we are doing…
So, I went to Michaels lastnight…just HAD to see if they had the BASIC GREY paper pads yet. The answer is a big fat NO. But they did have all paper pads on sale for 25% off, and an endcap full of other cool new paper pads. There was the glitter Christmas stack by Die Cuts with a View and matching mat stacks. Then a mess of new sets by Me and My Big Ideas (MAMBI). Only one of those tempted me, but I was able to restrain myself. All punches were 40% off so I did get THIS ribbon slot punch by Fiskars that I’ve been eyeing for a month or so.
Because I want to weave ribbon through it on cards and layouts. You can also weave paper through it…a very cool look. I couldn’t find any layout samples to show you…if anyone has used their Leave It To Weaver punch on a layout or card, please give me a linkee!
ETA 9-8-08: I put the call out to AMR girlz for photos of their projects using this punch and two of them came through! Here are some cards from mystery woman ~Q~:
And Jessica aka jessicamae shared this layout:
{Okay, back to the original post….}
I’ve never been a big ‘punch’ girl, but all these new border punches are sucking me into Punch Land. What else did I get? OH! Finally found the BAZZILL at my Mike’s and I felt kinda stupid because it could’ve been there for a while and I never noticed it. It was just in the regular cardstock paper rack area where they’ve had the Paper Outlet stuff forevah! But it finally dawned on to me to check there and, sho nuff, Bazzill!! I wasn’t crazy about the 79 cents per sheet price tag, but when I saw that Bazzill Bling was the same price as the regular I got mostly Bling, as my LSS sells it for $1/sheet.
At checkout, I noticed the employees were wearing their stunning new UNIFORMS. I said to the checker, “I see you’re wearing the new uniforms.” {Dead silence}. So I added in my best sarcastic tone, “You must be thrilled” and she said, “Yeah.” Again with the crickets. And that was that. I did notice that everyone was wearing their own version of black top, khaki-colored pants (or beige or brown or olive, whatever they were in the mood for that day apparently) but not the required official black polo and khakis that I’d heard it would be. Reminded me of Target, where yes, the employees wear a red top and beige pants…but they personalize it with a blue mohawk, a pierced cheek, and a raging right arm sleeve (tattoo). Which to me defeats the purpose of the whole ‘corporate unity’ look they were even going for…but that’s just me. Oh, how I long for the days when I could shop without having to stare at holes in people’s faces, discs in their stretched out earlobes, and other things that make me hurt just to look at. I know, I know…I’m old fashioned and need to get a grip, right? Bah!
First BAZZILL, and now this! Yep, I heard from my ever-reliable 2Peas girlz that Michaels is now carrying a limited stock of the new Basic Grey. You can read about it HERE. Apparently, they will carry paper pads of Urban Prairie and Granola. I’d say the majority of the gals who posted, especially those who love to support their LSS’s, were a bit dismayed at this development. Like, why should Michaels get the new BG before the LSS’s even have it? Why were LSS owners apparently NOT told at CHA that Michaels would have these 2 lines? Kelly Goree from Basic Grey responded like this:
“…I was just writing to let you know that out of our recent release, M’s is only going to be carrying the UP and Granola and only in paper packs. This is an exclusive to them item and can only be found in that format there. However, they will NOT be getting any of the collection packs, chipboard, brads, etc. that coordinate with these lines.
Please know that UP and Granola are both slated to ship very soon so all the goodies, complete with all the extras should be showing up in your LSS very soon.”
I’m not sure how I feel about it. I’ve always been a huge LSS supporter, but I shop at Mike’s a lot merely because that’s all I have access to where I live. We have no Joann’s or Archivers or Hobby Lobby. All my close-by LSS’s have closed; the remaining one is 45 minutes away and it’s hard to get there much. But when I do, I fully support them, LOL! So I’m torn. I’m excited that ANY Basic Grey is at Michaels {!!!!!!}. But I’m sad that LSS’s are getting it AFTER Michaels did and that they apparently weren’t told this would happen when they placed their CHA orders. Was the info purposely withheld? I dunno. But as you can read in the 2Peas post, it sure puts the LSS owners in an awkward and probably costly position. If “one of our own” (i.e. Basic Grey) can’t support our LSS’s, who will? Maybe big companies like BG see the writing on the wall…the demise of most LSS’s and only selling to BBS’s and online stores? I guess I’d rather have some BG somewhere, than have them go out of business because the few LSS’s that are left aren’t buying enough product to keep them afloat. Not blaming the LSS’s in ANY way…it’s just the economy, the downward trend, and what THEY can afford to stock right now.
So, Basic Grey at Mike’s…it’s a bittersweet thang, ain’t it? What are your thoughts on the issue?
I don’t have a crystal ball, and haven’t consulted JOHN EDWARD on this, but here is my prediction: PINK PAISLEE will be the next BASIC GREY of the scrapbook world. Yep, they are THAT good. I mean, just check out this yummy goodness on their home page:
Um, well, okay. Blogger girl foiled again! This is where I went and right clicked on the cool images on their home page, only to be told “Sorry, right-click is disabled. You are welcome to use our images, but we prefer you to use the right ones; Simply click the link for retailer resource page at the bottom of the page under Retailer Lounge.” Which I did HERE, and found a PDF file to click on for product images. Well, tell ya what, if the .pdf file is done downloading by the time I finish writing this, I’ll include their images. If not, sorry Charlie, your loss! {Can you tell this is a pet peeve of mine. Sheesh! I was really liking these Paislee girls until now….}. But a cool thing I did find on that page was a list of coordinating cardstock for their lines. Nice! Nice for the retailer, nice for the shopper.
So! Well, I was going to directly link you to their BLOG and their PRODUCT page and such like I usually do with products I like. But now I’m kind of pissed, so I’ll let you explore on your own if you like. Can you see the tee shirt I’m wearing? It says, “I don’t get mad, I get even.” Yeah, right, I know they don’t care about us bloggers but I’d say we DO send a little bitta biz their way, wouldn’t you? Wish these companies realized that and were a bit more ‘blog friendly.’ Maybe I’ll go write my Congressman….
Well, I still do love their products and think they’ll be taking over the industry. Their new lines are: Vintage Moon, Pop Fashion, Office Lingo, and Spring Fling. Wish I knew how to use THESE cool desktop calendars cuz theirs rock! Stacey at AMR has been teasing us with PP on her blog HERE, HERE and HERE. {While you’re there, check out THIS post about the new Jenni Bowlin…I have a BIG jones for anything Jenni}. HERE’s the store if you want to shop!
PS: That dang PDF product image file is STILL downloading, so no product pictures to share with ya’ here, but click on those links to Stacey’s blog, she has plenty {she must be gads more patient than me, LOL!}
The whole Girly Girl look isn’t my main style; however, I can’t help but love this new release from Basic Grey. It’s called Euphoric and, like Kelly Goree says on her blog, this paper was MADE for this little swimsuit!
LAYOUT by KELLY GOREE
Isn’t that paper pretty? I love the colors, so fresh and Spring-y. Please check out Kelly’s BLOG and the Basic Grey SITE for a lot more info about Euphoria, along with some other new BG products on the way. According to Kelli, your stores can start placing orders 5/12 and it will ship in June. This is one I’ll be on the lookout for! One great source I know all you “BG and Bazzill” girls like me depend on is EMBELLISH IT! and they are taking pre-orders. You can also see each of the individual papers on their site so click on over there.
Here are pics of my favorite items, but there are many more to see on Kelli’s blog or at Embellish It!:
