New Year ---> New Things!!

I first want to wish you all a wonderful NEW Year...full of creativity, peace. laughter, love, healing, happiness and dreams that come true!!!!

I also want to thank everyone for the great turnout for the sale last week....you guys are awesome!! Inventory was done in record time this year, so you have no idea how much I appreciate you! (A big THANK YOU to my husband who helped count all the little  bits of this 'n that's and to Dawn and Pat for offering to help. You all are great!)

It's going to be a short week at the Playground....the store is CLOSED 

New Years Day

and will also be CLOSED

Saturday, January 5th.

Things will be back to normal on Tuesday, January 8th.

Now, before I move on to the NEW Stuff in the store, I want to tell you about something NEW happening at the  Playground.
I'm not a "resolution" kind of girl. I never have been....it feels like it just opens the door to a lot of disappointment and reasons to beat myself up. I do, however, love Ali Edward's idea of focusing on One Little Word (she does an online workshop...you can see more details HERE) except, I need more than one word this year. I have some major decisions ahead of me this year and I need to focus on being FOCUSED...I also want to focus on FUN...I want to have fun, and I want to make the Playground a fun place to be for all of YOU. So, here's to Focusing and Fun!!

 Recipe Swap/Club

This idea has been rolling around in my head for over a  year now. (Thank you Cathy Harper & Chelsea for putting it there!!)  I have been a lover of cooking, recipes, and cookbooks for as long as I can remember. The idea of scrapping and swapping recipes sounds like pure heaven to me. Then a couple of great customers came in (Hi Rachel & Michelle!!!) with the results from a recipe swap they participated in. What inspiration!! They were so creative and fun...and imagining having a book full of these amazing pages sent me over the edge...so it's time to JUST DO IT!

Who wants to join me in a Recipe Swap?
This is what I'm thinking...

• 6x6 format...makes it easy to use 6x6 paper packs or 12x12 pages. (I can get 6x6 albums and page protectors by American Crafts - special discounts for swap members)
• We will swap each month, with each month having it's own category (i.e. appetizers, beverages, bread etc.) January will be appetizers, February will be beverages and I will have the full year written up and available to you by the end of the month.
• I would like to keep the amount of pages at a manageable number. I have no idea how many will sign up, but I'm thinking about 12 per group. If less than 12 sign up, that's fine...if there are more than 16, we will split into two groups. If there is more than 1 group, you are more than welcome to join both groups so you don't miss out on any recipes.
• Recipes will be due on the 31st of each month [EDIT: I eventually realized that every month does not have 31 days....so make that the LAST DAY of each month...uh bouy!!](drop them off at the store) and they will be swapped out and available to pick up on the 5th.
• I would love to have a night or two each month that we could get together and work on recipe pages, exchange ideas, gab a little and maybe even share some of the food we are sharing the recipes for.

If you are interested in being part of this swap, let me know! You can call the store at 721-7529 or send me an email at scrapandplay (at) rushmore (dot) com. I also welcome ANY questions or suggestions...so don't be shy!!

Alright...sorry, I get a little long winded sometimes...on to the new stuff at the store.

From Graphic 45

A Place In Time

I love the idea of these pages. I think they are a great way to document an entire year. Pick out the highlights of each month. How satisfying to look back at the year and see all the moments that created it. I truly believe it's the little things that make life BIG.

And...if you don't want to commit to a full year, why not scrap those special months...birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, vacations, babies...well, it might turn into a full year before you know it. LOL!

I have the first 3 months of the year in stock right now, with more on the way. 

Stop by and check them out...and if you need a different month right away...let me know...don't be shy. I will get them on the next order!!

Matchbook Box

I'm pretty excited about these. I want to decorate one so bad! They are made of really sturdy "kraftboard", the open from the side like the old time matchbox. They come in 3 sizes, 12x12, 8x8, and 3x5, so lots of versatility...and a small version to try if you are a little scared at first.

I really want to make these for Christmas gifts next year...a scrapbook page in a box...a photo in a box. I just love the idea and can't wait to play!

Sketches for Scrapbooking

There are some new sketchbooks at the Playground! Just a few volumes right  now with plans to add more.

There isn't a lot of fuss and frill to these books. They are grey-scale sketches. Basic and straightforward. That's not usually my style for this type of thing...but I love how easy they are to use. My favorite part is how they have a key to  tell you where to put the large patterned paper, small patterned paper, and stripes. Combining patterned paper seems to be my biggest hurdle in scrapbooking. These sketchbooks walk you through that. 

There are 30 sketches in each book...they show you where to put the paper and exactly what dimensions to cut it at. Easy Peasy! Switch out the colors, add different embellishments or turn the sketch on it's side or even upside down...and you have a whole new look. Endless ideas....what could be better than that?

Okay, I'm done bugging you.....have a wonderful day and I hope you are ready for the next chapter that is about to unfold for us all!!

I hope to see you soon!