Saturday, February 25, 2017

34 Minutes on Why You Need Distress Oxide Inks . . .

Our sales of Tim Holtz’ new Distress Oxide Inks have gone through the roof (again) over the past ten days or so.  We don’t always know why – there aren’t enough of us around here to keep up with all of the blogs and videos and such.  But then I started getting e-mails – and people came into the store – and they were all saying the same thing – “I saw Jennifer McGuire’s video and I just had to have them.”

So this morning I searched for it – in case you haven’t seen it yet, grab a cup of coffee ahead of time because it lasts 34 minutes . . .

I know that often when I put a video on this blog, the e-mail feed only shows a black box – so here’s the link you can click on if you need it.

And here’s a link to the Distress Oxide Ink product page if you need to order your own set – did I mention that they are still 20% Off the MSRP if you order the entire set of 12 colors?

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When I am in town, Saturday is one of the few days of the week that I can be involved in filling orders.  So this morning, Zoe and I came in and I did this while she got settled near the front window – sent out orders for Distress Oxide Pads.  We have lots of them – so if you haven’t taken the plunge yet, watch the video. 

A box like this could be on its way to you soon . . .

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Whoops–Missed Two . . .

Gary was sitting at the shipping computer next to me this morning, confirming Sizzix shipments of their March Tim Holtz New Releases.  I wasn’t even paying attention until he mentioned that he was surprised that we hadn’t received any orders for two April releases that he thought would be very popular.  It appears that I missed them back in January . . .

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Two new Bigz dies for the holidays – Layered Holiday Wreath and Layered Tattered Poinsettiathey were on the notice we received from Sizzix in December, and I just missed them.  They are on our site now – with the usual 20% off the MSRP and free shipping for advance orders.

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While we’re at it, here are five more rascals expected from Sizzix in May – The Hipsters Are Coming!  I supposed this must be the next generation after the Crazy Birds and Cats and Dogs from last year – each matches one of the stamps in the Stampers Anonymous Hipster Cling Mount Set.  You’ll find matching dies for the Bird, Cat, Chimp, Goat and Ostrich (each sold separately).

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Also expected in May, I finally got around to adding the new Tim Holtz storage ideas – there are several of them, so you can click on this link to see all of them at once.

Back to work – the Idea-ology New Releases are supposed to arrive today or tomorrow and should complete all of the Tim Holtz goodies expected in February.  So we have some shipping to do . . .

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Tim Holtz Extravaganza Week Starts Monday . . .

It starts Monday, February 20 – only in our retail store in Dayton.  This notice is probably a little late for those of you who would require a flight from California – but for the locals, and those who might just need a rest break while traveling along I-70 or I-75 . . .

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It’s Tim Holtz Extravaganza Week – a celebration of all things Tim Holtz.  There will be classes and make and takes, along with 30% off all in-stock Tim Holtz items (in store only) and selected items chosen each day at up to 50% off.

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And of course there will be fun stuff – every $20 purchase in our store gets a ticket for a giveaway of autographed Tim Holtz items, plus other Tim Holtz goodies provided by Marco’s.  The giveaway will be held Sunday, February 26 at 3:00 p.m., but you don’t have to be present to win.

Click on this link for the schedule for the week!

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Escape from Non-Wintery Ohio . . .

I spend most of the three weeks or so after I get back from Texas in January longing to escape winter in Ohio.  And then the first of February arrives and my wish comes true, with shows in Georgia and Florida.  But this has not been a normal winter – temperatures have bounced back and forth between the teens and the sixties – we have had almost no snow . . .

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And the daffodils had already broken through in the third week of January.  That said, I still couldn’t wait to head south.

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But first I had a very special event to attend.  A few days before I left, my uncle turned 100.  Everett is an amazing guy – he and my grandpa’s sister Sarah have been married for 67 or so years, and still live in their home with daily visits from their daughter.  Talk about stamina – Sarah and Everett and their kids and grandkids and great-grandkids went out to eat the evening before the party, and then the party lasted for three hours at their church.  Everett had so much fun that he announced the next day he had decided to stick around until 105 and do it all again.

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Spotted in a McDonald’s in Duluth, Georgia – there were several of these signs there and from the copyright info, they obviously came from McDonald’s Corporate.  I guess the spellchecker was off that day . . .

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The Lawrenceville show did not have to share dates with the show in Florida, so everything was pretty much back to normal.

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When things calmed down a bit, customers had a chance to spend some time going through the embossing folders and the clearance table.

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After the Georgia show, I headed south to spend a few days in the sun during the day (and working during the evening).  Size sometimes has its privileges – I got to park the truck right across the drive from the main entrance to Disney’s Hollywood Studios.  Travel alert – about 1/3 of Hollywood Studios is under construction while new Toy Story and Star Wars lands are built.  If you were a fan of the Backlot Tour, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, or the Nascar Stunt Show – they are gone.

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I suspect that sometime in the not-to-distant future, my great-niece Amelia’s stroller will be found in an area much like this one . . .

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The Star Wars theme is everywhere – there is a Storm Trooper march through Hollywood Studios several times a day.  And I heard a rumor that Spaceship Earth at Epcot will eventually become the Death Star (which would be its first update in more than 30 years).

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This is – easily – the single food item I have encountered in my many Disney trips that is absolutely worth what you pay for it.  The Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich at the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor in the Magic Kingdom (on the right at the end of the first block on Main Street) is $5.29 – and I could barely eat all of it.

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After Disney, I spent a day with my childhood friends Jack and Beth – this was the view out my bedroom window.  And that huge lake is only about six feet deep all the way across.  Played golf with Jack, then headed for the gulf coast and played once again on my own.  Then it was back to work . . .

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Spotted in the hotel parking lot as I was leaving to set up the booth in New Port Richey.  It isn’t considered politically correct anymore and was replaced by a made-up bird years ago, but for Miami grads of a certain age (like me), this will always have meaning . . .

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With Sparkle ‘n’ Sprinkle at both shows on this trip, I can’t tell you how many people (vendors and customers alike) came up to me and asked if I knew how Margaret’s husband George was doing.  He is doing fine – spent a good part of the day helping/hindering Margaret as she set up her booth.

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My honorary aunt Dee Mielke always surprises me with Florida citrus – and yes, that is Ellen from Tessler’s in the background.  Ellen came up to me again and asked that I thank all of you for your cards and prayers and kindness – she said she received so many that there is no way she can ever reply to all of them.

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Two shots taken through the looking glass above the show floor – one at 6:00 on Friday evening, and the other at 12:00 on Saturday.

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Karen left a message on my phone on Saturday afternoon to remind me to bring what was left of the discontinued Spellbinders dies to the store when I got back.  Obviously, by the end of two shows there wasn’t a lot left.  But I got word while I was gone that more than 200 dies had been added to the list – all at 50% off the MSRPyou can click on this link to see the new batch.

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Monday morning after I made it home on Sunday night – the crocuses have appeared.  From the picture my brother sent me while I was in Florida, his appeared several days earlier.