What NOT to do.......

The day before Thanksgiving when you are cooking.

No it is not broken just badly bruised/hurt, note to self don't drop a treadmill on your foot. Yes I know that they are for walking on not under. I'm to stay off of it for a few days, keep it up and rest, I don't think the doctor knows that I have a dinner to fix tomorrow or work to go to on friday, and as I sit here and complain about that I am still so thankful that I have plenty of food to cook tomorrow and a wonderful job to go to on friday when so many of those out there don't in these trouble times.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and spends some time with family and friends and I'll see you on Friday at the store.

Busy, busy, busy..........

How many people start their post with that same title????? Well around here it's true. We tried to go Christmas shopping Saturday and just didn't have any luck, we bought nothing, not even a candy cane. We don't know what people want and this is the really sad part that hurts me to say but some of the people we haven't seen in a while so we don't know what they are into. The kids we buy for are at the age were gift cards are best, so yes Kate if you are reading this Erin IS getting a gift from us, why because we love buying little kids presents at Christmas time, it's what is fun for us, and I think she is just about the only little one left. And I love seeing joy in peoples faces. And when I can cause it it's even better, maybe I'm sick that way but I get a charge out of it.

I hope to get the tree up this weekend, there isn't a lot of time between now and Christmas this year, If all goes well maybe I'll post pictures. I did find my dining room this weekend, for those of you who do not know I'm not a neat person, there I said it, and a lot of my junk goes right into the dining room because we don't use it. I'm talking bags and bags of stuff, the stuff I bought in San Diego a few months ago was still in the bag in there, all my die cutting machines and dies, you get the picture. Well since Thanksgiving is this week and everyone is eating here we needed a place to eat so now I hae a dining room again and not a junk room, it will last through the Holiday season because I also use the table for wrapping gifts.

Well I should get ready for work, it's going to be a busy week getting ready for Black Friday sales we do have some really good stuff coming in for it so watch you email for the list and if you don't get our emails go to www.papertales.com and sign the guest book now!!!!!!

Well the Holidays are upon us..........

and I know for me that means run here do this, don't forget that and something is always going to come up. So if you are always rushed like I am then maybe you should take a break and take a class, yeah I know that sounded cheezey. But we do have a great class tomorrow, it's our annual Cookie Book class. Not only do you get to make a great book full of recipes to keep for yourself or give as a gift but you also get to taste every cookie in the book, yup we have made them all for you, now that's a class. There are a few spots left so call the store if you would like to attend or need a kit 586-773-7911.

Well more to do, hey for those of you who didn't know we do have and Etsy store the link is to the right under Paper Tales online we sell kits and vintage goodies there you might want to take a look, I'm getting ready to add stuff now.

Have a good day!!!

Do you need some inspiration??????

I know I do.

Well Sunday at the store we are having a Holiday Open House, what is this you ask. Well I'm not sure. LOL!!!! Ok yes I do. We have been working on quick ideas for you to do for the holidays, either as gifts or decorations. We will be there to help you pull stuff to put it together at home or to just inspire you to use your stash. You should come and see what all we have in store for you, and we might just have cookies there.


Did you also know that this Friday starts our Sizzix challenge, you can come in on friday do a wonderful make and take for free and get a great demo for the sizzix and a chance to win one, I must tell you I have one of the old ones and never used it, but after CHA this summer I couldn't wait to get my hands on one of the new ones, it can do some amazing things. You should come in and check it out.

just a quickie for now........

I wanted to let you know that we have two crafters home exclusive dies for the Revolution in the store, noe the fairy die can be used with the big shot by sizzix too but the border die cannot yet. We do have a limited number of these die and are willing to ship them if you would want one, they are $34.99 each plus shipping, you just need to email the store at papertales@sbcglobal.net put quickutz die in the subject line please. Sorry the pictures are small, the fairy is a 4x4 die and the holly is a 12 inch border die.

Finally!!!!!!!

I know I've been promising this book for a few days now, but yes I have finished it, and thanks Helen for sticking up for me today at the store about being sick. Once again I have combined Melissa Frances and Maya Road. When I saw this book at CHA I knew I wanted to do a class with it, and it was going to be a Christmas one. Saw the perfect paper when I was at the Melissa Frances' booth I must say I fell in LOVE with this paper her Christmas line is to die for, so soft so sweet.

Now I do have to tell you that we do, do kits for our classes but with this one you are silver leafing, so if you get a kit there will be no silver leaf due to the fact that it can not be kitted.

Sorry the lighting really wasn't that great.

Now for some more news; did you know that we are having a Shop Hop in December????? here's the info:

Christmas 2008 Shop Hop
Friday 12/05/08 9am-9pm
Saturday 12/06/08 9am-5pm
Cost $15

Each Shop Hopper will make 2 cards w/envelopes at each participating store they visit. Shop Hoppers will also receive a 25% discount on their purchases for both days.

Each store you visit will be entering your name in a drawing for store prizes and visiting all participating stores gets you an entry for the Grand Prize a weekend retreat at Memories Manor in St. Clair a $275 Value!!!
Deadline to register is Monday December 1st, don't miss this one!!

Participating Stores:
Paper Tales in Eastpointe
Beaded Stamper in Lapeer
Jane's Craft Studio in Waterford
Karen's Creative Stamps in Burton
Live,Laugh, Love and Scrap in Oxford
My Craft Room in Troy
Remember When & Scrap in Chesterfield
Scrap Happy in North Branch
Scrappin & Stampin Paradise in Macomb
Shoebox Memories in Lapeer
The Paper Hollow in Troy

What a way to spend the weekend.

Well more later!!!!!

I hate being sick!!!!!!

So much to do and all I want to do is sleep, trust me I've been sleeping. I've been sick now since Thur. and I've had enough!!!!! No energy to do anything, and no voice!!!!! Me not talk, that's unheard of!!!!!!! This cold is kicking my butt. But enough about how I feel let's get to some fun.

I saw this on a website and thought is was cool, but I didn't want to go through the big mess so I made it a bit simpler for us scrappers. Ok we all know those bottle brush trees at Christmas time, the green ones in the Christmas Villages, and for those of us who are older had them thru out the house during the holidays. Well wouldn't you like to make them fight your project by coloring them????? It is so easy your going to wonder why you didn't think of that. First you start with the right type of tree you don't want an all plactic tree the color won't take mine I got and Michaels 21 in bag for $14.99 they have amny sizes in there.

Then you want to bleach them, I used a bowl of water and about 1/4 cup of bleach, it does take a few minutes and I did a few at a time.

Once this is done you want to rinse out the bleach and dry them, If you use a hair dryer please be careful, they can smoke on you. After this it's all up to you and your project. I colored mine with Maya Mist the gold then the red and green are great.


I know my red looks pink but it's my lighting, it is a beautful deep red with gold sparkles, and so is the green. The gold really does show through.

Now if you are going for a softer look try Glimmer Mist, although you don't get the glimmer you get with the gold Maya Mist.

I can't wait to start using these in my projects.

Speaking of which I will post my Melissa Frances Christmas book hopefully tonight, as soon as I'm done here I'mm going to work on it. And speaking of Melissa Frances guess who is there guest designer???? You should hop over there and check it out, they always have interesting things going on, the link in to your right, just click on Melissa Frances. See ya there!!

Now go make some trees!!!!

No real title today.......

Well lots going on, if you love vintage flowers, now I'm talking stuff from the 40's-50's keep a watch on aour etsy site to the right (Paper Tales online) I've been trying to get some up there but as soon as I get them up there they're gone so you have to be fast, but the stuff is truely amazing.

I have pictures of my Sentiments class coming up Nov. 5th it's a littl book full of things to put into cards with plenty of room for you to add your own.

I also have a few pictures of my Christmas house on the 10th, this you are making a cute little house that actually looks like something is going on in the windows and you have a tag book inside.

I also have a vintage Christmas book coming up on the 18th but I have no sample yet, the paper I'm using just made it into the store yesterday so that is on my list of things to do tonight and tomorrow, and don't forget that our annual Cookie Book is this month and space is limited this is always a fun event not only do you get the recipes of the cookies, plus pictures of how they look but you get to sample each of the cookies that night, yup we are talking about 20 different types of cookis for you to eat, now what could be better than that!!!!! That class in the 20th.

Well I suppose I should go get ready for work, I need to pack Novembers Sweet Treats today, you guys are going to love these.

Have a good day

Thank You for waiting.......

If you would like to purchase a kit for the Bon Appetit class below I do have only two kits that are extra, 80% of the ephemera in the kit is the actual vintage stuff and NOT reproductions, althought there are 3 repros in the kit. It is a great kit and would make a great gift for Christmas. the cost of the kit is $30 plus shipping. Please contact me at lauravig@comcast.net if you have any questions or would like one, it is a first come first serve basis. Here are a few pictures of the project, and again thank you for all the kind words on the project.

And if you are looking for some cool stuff, Paper Tales does have an online store at etsy ther is a link to the right, you might want to check that out, I'll be adding some cool stuff in the next couple of days, trust me really cool stuff.

Thank you,

Laura

WOW!!!!!

What a responds to the book. First I want to say thank you th Teresa for putting my book on her blog, she is such a sweet friend. Thank you.

Now to answer some of your questions;

I will be happy to sell some kits for this class, but I had to order more of Teresa's paper first so please let me know if you are seriously interested and I will figure out how to get it done.

Now as far as my source for the vintage stuff Oh how I wish there was a few places where I/we could go to pick up what we need or want, but it really is luck and lots of searching, yard sales antique stores, ebay. It takes time, I had the idea for the book when the papr came out and had already started my collection but took until now to get enough stuff, and a few of the items are reproductions, but only a few. It's not easy but I love the hunt for the next great treasure.

As far as knowing the girls at Paper Tales in San Diego, yes I do and Michelle and Helle are wonderful and sweet, I was just there and they have some great little vintage finds in there store they have someone that brings them in that does the searching, California is a great place to search.

Thank you once again for your kind words on my project. If you have anymore questions please let me know.

Laura

New Class!!!!!!!!

What's this am I actually getting some samples done???? I k now things must be slowing down. This class is done with Teresa Collins Bon Appetit line and I've added my vintage touch, in this book you get actual vintage foos labels and bottle caps lined with cork 1950's, it's got some really fun stuff in it. It would make a great Christmas gift, but space is very limited due to the vintage supplies.

It is a very charming book.

Please keep and eye on our many classes coming up lots of them will be great for gifts, have some fun in a class and make a great gift at the same time.

Back into the swing of things........

Yes vacation was way too short and yet I really had no time to take one. When did live get so crazy????? I use to say I work well under pressure, and yes I still do it's just crazy lately, but good crazy so I shouldn't complain.

Well class was fun today, and I hope to get more samples done, yes I know that I am getting my samples in late but some of it is I am waiting on items to ship, so I am trying. I do have many classes in November 5 I think and one of them is a 12 x 12 album we will do this in one day on a Saturday and start at 10:30 am it will be a great Christmas gift for someone or just for you to keep it will be a family theme.

Here are some photos from my trip.

Here is Michelle and Helle, they own and run Paper Tales in San Diego and I must say they are two of the sweetest girls I've met and the store is just charming it would definataly be worth the trip if you are anywhere around Southern California, I love all the vintage stuff they have there.

Here's another friend I made while in San Diego, while on Shelter Island, I could have pet him but I think ha wanted food, bye that time of the day so did I.

Guess where I am here??????

Guess who lives here???? I know you can't tell but this is Bugs Bunny's house or where he use to live he is even carved into the circle in the door. Yes we took a trolley ride in Beverly Hills.

You would think Jon would be smiling since he is on the Santa Monica Pier and just order us a

yup that's a big ole funnel cake, can't go to the peir and not have one, of course our just about blew away.

Can you guess where our Hotel is?????? Well just follow the smoke and you'll get closer. I don't see how people stand all the fires, and it's a constant almost, they have five seasons spring summer, fall winter and fire. No thank you, I had nose bleeds from it and let's not even mention traffic because of freeways being closed.

Although the smoke can make for a pretty picture, but I think I'd wait for clouds instead.

I know this is hard to see but while we stopped at a rest area for picture taking this sign killed me, yes it's a rattle snake warning sign, nice the side of the rest area I was trapesing all over outside boundaries to take pictures no signs go to the other side and these things were all over the place.

Well I really need to get going and get some stuff done.

Goodnight for now.

Great time....

Ok even tho I am not going to all the places one might go while in Southern California, I am having a wonderful time. It is just me and Jon we really don't get much time together. We did go shopping on Rodeo Drive, I turned him down both at Tiffany's and Coach, the only thing we bought was somthing for our son and yes I did buy something for Sweet Treats :)
Ok I tried to load some pictures but it won't let me so that will have to wait until I get home, so I guess I'm off for today Have fun.

Aaahhh rest........

I'm taking a few days off and have some fun, not that my job is not fun, I love my job, but I'm getting away with my darling sweet husband. It seems like lately that one of us is always working. He has some meetings in San Diego so I'm going with him. I've never been to California. I spent today getting ready which means buy food for the boys, yes we are leaving the boys home alone, they are old enough right and we trust them right, and they are good boys right?????? Besides they will tell on each other if one does something wrong, I hope, they use to anyway when they were little.

I did make myself do something for me today. This is a little project I've been wanting to do since I saw it at the Maya Road booth at Summer CHA, they do have a great Design Team. I loved all the things that they do but this one spoke to me, maybe because I'm a little witchy.

Now I know I promised pictures of the vintage class, and yes I do have two pages done and the third page is still being worked on upstairs, lets just say the poinsettia will have a glass look to it, and it will be at the store when I get back, but here are the other two.

Well now to get some things packed. Have a nice weekend.

Thank you!!!!!!!

First of all I want to thank you for all your help and support at our 2nd annual Scrap Pink Crop and Silent Auction for Susan G. Koman. We had a great time laughed a lot, scrapped a little ate way too much and won some prizes. A good time was had by all I hope.

So while I was getting ready for this past weekend can someone please tell me how I can loose three, yes three fish in my fish tank and not know where they are???? Not even a little piece of them, and one of them was the biggest one in the tank.

I have gotten two of my Layouts done for my Vintage class on the 18th of this month. I will post them tomorrow when they dry. Then I need to work on my cookbook. I will say that if you haven't made it in or reserved your Sweet Treat box yet we only have 3 left that are not spoken for, and I know Novenber is still 3 weeks away but I was working on those boxes today, and I must say we found so really cool stuff for November too, remember they are limited in number, so you might want to reserve your November box today.

Until next time, behave.

The Auction is here...the auction is here!!!!!!!

the stores number is 1-586-773-7911

Yes it is time for our Silent Auction for Breast Cancer again during our 3 day crop for Scrap Pink. You don't want to miss the fun happening at Paper Tales this weekend. Three days of cropping, shopping, prizes, raffles and more. I will be posting some of the items up for auction on my blog, if you see something you like please feel free to call the store.

We have over 60 items up for auction and it is impossible for me to post all of them, but here are a few, but first a quick over view shot of most. Starting bid range from $2-$50 so there is something for everyone, and just think it's a handmade Christmas gift, you don't have to tell them you didn't make it ;)

We have a Scrapbooking weekend up for auction at Memories Manor in St. Clair. What a wonderful gift this would be. It is #51

We also have the most comfortable pink robe from zutter and pink flipflops from Melissa Frances, trust me we all fought over this robe, and as the weather is getting chillier it might come home with me yet. #40

This wonderful basket of Making Memories stuff is great it has new stamps and a block, an apron and more. #20

This great trunk of Maya Road goodies is a must have, it is about $50 worth of stuff 2 sheer alphas, felt shapes, slides and more and if you are a Maya Road junkie, and who isn't this is a quick fix. #22

I am sorry but I do not know the number on this item, but it is the only wedding album in the bunch. It is an 8x8 complete album for a wedding it is done in black and white and would make a perfect gift for someone you have in mind or great just to have on hand.

Now we have a Tie from Cosmo Cricket, if you have ever been to their site you know that they have a panic button for husbands and it goes to a tie shopping page, and this would be a tie from this page. There are not many out there, so if you want one this is the place to get it, as well as their paper is in the store.

Ok these next two items fromwhat I gather have been gathering interest, some people have been wanting these sample for a while so we decided to finally let them go, they are some of the first classes that I taught and I love them, but I hate breast cancer more so they are going for a great cause. The first one is a book that has been covered with silk very vintage looking. #36

The Tin Book is also very vintage and is done with Melissa Frances papers and is absolutely gorgeous. #9

We have bags of 15 plus handmade cards some just Christmas, imagine sending out handmade cards and not having to make them. There are about 5 bags of assorted cards just call in and bid and you'll have cards on hand.

There is so much more, we have more baskets of supplies, great books, tags just too much to list. Remember all of this goes to Breast Cancer.

Also we have cleaned our extra kits out of the back room and they will out for sale this weekend, it's another way to get a Christmas gift done. You really need to come in and see all the great stuff this weekend. When I left today Mike was putting new stuff in the computer too, so have I convinced you yet to come in?????