Saying Goodbye to Gotta Scrap

Patty and D'Uan announced last Wednesday that Gotta Scrap will be closing their doors. For me and many scrappers it's the end of an era, much like when Scrappy's in Richardson closed. I've watched their store grow and evolve over the last 8 years starting when they first bought out Gotta Scrap, Gotta Stamp (as it was called WAY back then). They've been one of the go to places to learn new techniques and see great new products. The store was much like the Cheers of the scrapbook world, and they always remembered you.

Today was my first visit to the store since the announcement. I had wanted to make it sooner but business travel made that difficult. Walking through the doors this afternoon and seeing most of the fixtures gone or empty, the crop room more like a garage sale, my heart broke. While every scrapper LOVES a great sale, it was hard to get a thrill out of the many discounted treasures. Each item was a reminder that when it was all gone, there would be no Gotta Scrap.

The lovely ladies anticipate being there through September 15th or til everything is gone. By the looks of things it will be the latter. While they will still be involved and have a presence in the scrapper world, they and the beloved Gotta Scrap will be missed.

Patty and D'Uan may God Bless your new endeavours as this door closes and a new one opens. All of your scrapper friends from over the years will ALWAYS be here to support you.


Visit their blog for updates on the store and their "secret sales" - http://gottascraprockwall.blogspot.com/

More Work...

Rusty Pickle Sweet & Sassy Kit

Cover

Inside

Laugh (another layout)

The Last Leg of Travel

Finally my 4 weeks of travel is coming to an end. I'm writing to you scrappers in cyberspace from San Antonio. I drive back home tomorrow. Hopefully the travel will subside for 2-3 months and it will only be a trip here and there.

While here in San Antonio {I hadn't scoped out the LSS here yet} I found 4 stores!!!! I went to 2 today, but I'm not sure I'll make the other 2 tomorrow before heading back to Dallas. I'm on a scrapbook supply diet until my stash has been brought down to code. While the Fire Marshall may not be out to get me anymore {the piles have made it to their new homes on my shelves}, I may be on the radar for possession of obscene amounts of chemicals - Yikes!

My latest product passion... Glimmer Mist, has claimed the front running of my purchases. One of the stores I visited today had it and of coarse I HAD to get some. After all it's more of a tool, not like paper, where there IS such a thing as too much. I guess Glimmer Mist isn't really a chemical hazard... it IS water based, so maybe I'm in the clear.

I'm resisting the urge to purchase more paper. I have many shelves stocked full {still nothing like my dad's wife, but that's a topic for another day}. I'm in the process of resorting them {the paper} to make sure I'm aware of what I have for my projects. By color seems logically, but I begin to forget about some of my vintage or artsy papers when they are hidden in the piles. I've tried by manufacturer and that's not working so well... since alot of the paper companies I favor are similar in style I can't keep track which line has what.

The long weekend is coming up and I'm excited to get back to my "studio" {this is my new name for my scraproom... sounds professional}. I'm working on a domain name and web page, but you'll have to wait to find out what it is [wink, wink].

All in all I'm finding that I'm approaching a good place... travel behind me, a long weekend around the corner - translation? I get to scrap my heart out!!! At least after I get the kiddo to bed.

Happy Scrapping!!!

Getting In My {Creative} Groove

With CKC Tulsa behind me and traveling for working coming to an end (this week is my last trip). I'm starting to get my pages and projects cranked out. I'm working on some stuff to submit for contests, and my goal for the coming year is to get published or win a design contest for exposure.


I'm pulling out my work to start creating a gallery of my creations and I'm excited to say I'm certainly growing (creatively speaking).


My scraproom looks like a creative disaster, but at least I'm producing pages and projects.

One of the pages completed at CKC Tulsa Friday night crop

Completed last night

The Fire Marshall Is Going To Get Me

CKC Tulsa was a BLAST!!! I met some new people with the vendors and I've been frantically emailing back and forth with them. There's nothing like meeting others that are passionate about creating art. However, there is always one down side... I've unpacked my goodies and I'm pretty sure my scrapbook room violates some fire code. It looks like a scrapbook store threw up in here.

My scrap luggage is unpacked in the middle of the room, ready to be put back in the closet. My product literally takes up half the floor space. (I like to leave it on the floor so I can sort where everything needs to go.) Because of ALL the new product, I'm in the process of re-evaluating the storage layout in my room. Given some of the new techniques I've learned and some of the inspiration I've gained, it's time to rearrange my creative space. I feel a visit to IKEA coming one.

CKC Tulsa Day 1

I just woke up from my nap!! There is something to be said for staying at the convention center hotel... you CAN sleep if you need to.

We arrived yesterday morning, settled in at the hotel, did a Target run, and went to the vendor floor to help Rusty Pickle set up shop. Lots of work, but lots of fun!!! We got to peek at what the other vendors had to offer, plus we got vendor passes to get in early this morning.

Not a lot of different products from GASC, but that was just 2 months ago. Since my urge to spend was curbed, because there wasn't new product screaming at me I took a class. Finally I know how to use my Zutter Bind-It-All correctly.

I did do a make-n-take at Tattered Angels, and this is now one of my new FAVORITES!!! I can't wait to work on my kit tonight at the crop.

Just Over 48 Hours Til...

I'm hitting the road for CKC Tulsa!!! I've been busy sorting and packing supplies for the trip. I have just over 100 pictures to put in layouts and deciding what to take is next to impossible! I'm used to scrapping in my scrapbook room where I have access to ALL my supplies. How do I downsize to a rolling crop tote? This is going to be a challenge. I guess worse case scenario I will just "HAVE" to buy what I need there {wink, wink}.

Exercising Restraint

I was in Houston the last three days and despite being in an area with 6 scrapbook stores I'd LOVE to go shop at, I was able to convince myself to save the fix for next week at CKC Tulsa. It was SO hard, but I managed to get out of Houston without spending a dime on scrapbook supplies.

I AM counting the days to CKC. This time next week I will be getting ready to make the road trip for a girls getaway.

I hope I see some of you there.

11 Days & Counting to CKC Tulsa

It is just around the corner... CKC Tulsa. This will be Judy and my first time to a CKC convention. We will be going down the day before to help set up the Rusty Pickle booth. This next week is going to be busy getting scrapbook stuff packed and ready to go. We'll be doing a crop the Friday night of the convention, so hopefully I can get some stuff done. I haven't worked on a page or project is over a month!!!

I'm in Houston this week, so hopefully I'll get to hit some stores after work.