Cord Scrapbook Studio

The Return of the Scrap Rap

Once upon a time, there was a newsletter...

A Scrapbook Studio monthly, multi-page publication that highlighted the upcoming classes and events, new product arrivals and special offers in stores--information at your fingertips.  

Well, today... we're happy to announce... THE SCRAP RAP IS COMING BACK!

Our goal is to provide you with all of the information and inspiration you need to make the most of your Cord Scrapbook Studio experience! We'll be featuring Design Team projects, product reviews, and upcoming events in addition to the same special offers and new product announcements you've currently been getting from our weekly email newsletter!

In preparation for the Scrap Rap's return debut, we'll be taking the month of June off... so there will be no weekly email newsletters during that time! However, if you are a current subscriber to the newsletter, you will automatically receive each Scrap Rap issue on the first of each month--beginning July 1st! If you are not currently subscribed to the newsletter, you may do so here.

We're really excited about this new publication and all of the opportunities it presents! As the details come together and pieces start falling into place over the next month, we'll be sharing snippets and teasers here on the blog, so stay tuned!

A Sneak Peek & A Social Media Exclusive Offer!

TGIF, my friends! I don't know about you, but I am ready for the weekend! We've got big things a-happenin' at Cord Scrapbook Studio--after all, tomorrow's National Scrapbooking Day!

But first, how 'bout a lil' sneaky-peek at a new line we're expecting to arrive in stores on Monday! It's the latest-and-greatest collection from Simple Stories... Summer Fresh!

Umm... yeah... I think it's pretty darn cute. And it's full of trending colors and patterns--newsprint, chevron, denim. You name it! A.DOR.A.BLE.
Check it out...

    
    
Kinda makes me want to grab a blanket, pack up a picnic lunch, and spend an afternoon chasing butterflies and relaxing on the lawn. You?

The line comes with all of the double-sided patterned papers and signature cut-able elements we've all grown to love from Simple Stories. There's also coordinating cardstock stickers and a 6x6 paper pad available! Excited? Yeah... me too.

But ... not as excited as I am about tomorrow being National Scrapbooking Day! Woohoo! We've got croppers coming in for an all-day, 12-hour crop with goodies and prizes and fun galore and we'll be offering a $1 make-n-take at both locations from 12pm to 4pm for everyone! (No appointment necessary--walk-ins welcome!)

Plus... as a thank you, on this very special weekend... A thank you for being so supportive of us, following us on the blog, checking in via Facebook and the like... we've got a special, SOCIAL MEDIA EXCLUSIVE National Scrapbooking Day offer for all of you!

Just click on the coupon above for a printable version and you're good to go!

Wishing you all a FABULOUS National Scrapbooking Day Weekend!

In Memory...

Steven L. Cordle
1954 - 2012

Neopolitan Bean Bisque? Yes, please!

Guess what, folks? We've got another batch of projects to share with you today--these from Design Team member Mary Pat Siehl who just so happens to have been assigned Jillibean Soup's Neopolitan Bean Bisque collection!

You can follow Mary Pat and see her latest creations by following her blog, "Siehled with a Kiss". Then stay tuned at the end of this post for a super-scraptastic announcement!!

"Is Elmo There?" Layout by Mary Pat Siehl

Supplies Used:
    Neopolitan Bean Bisque Paper: Balsamic Vinegar
    Neopolitan Bean Bisque Paper: Parmesan Cheese Curls
    Neopolitan Bean Bisque Paper: Dried Rosemary Leaves
    Neopolitan Bean Bisque Cardstock Stickers
    Neopolitan Bean Bisque Pea Pods (Die-Cuts)
    Bazzill Cardstock
    Studio Calico Mister Huey's Mist: Plum Thumb
    Studio Calico Mister Huey's Mist: Heirloom Blue
    Studio Calico Mister Huey's Mist: Calico White
    Silhouette Cameo (Title)
    Sewing Machine

"Call Me" Card by Mary Pat Siehl

Supplies Used:
    Neopolitan Bean Bisque 6x6 Paper Pad
    Neopolitan Bean Bisque Pea Pods (Die-Cuts)
    Neopolitan Bean Bisque Cardstock Stickers
    Bazzill Cardstock
    Ruler

Dry Erase Message Board Frame by Mary Pat Siehl

Supplies Used:
    Neopolitan Bean Bisque Paper: Basil Pesto
    Neopolitan Bean Bisque Pea Pods (Die-Cuts)
    Neopolitan Bean Bisque Cardstock Stickers
    Bazzill Cardstock
    Sewing Machine
    Dry Erase Marker
    Frame

Aren't those great? I mean... who needs Elmo paper to create a character-friendly layout? And did you see all of those patterned papers layered together on Mary Pat's card? And the altered frame? Too cool... thanks so much for sharing, Mary Pat!

I know EXACTLY what I'd be writing on that message board right about now... "Don't forget about the Cord Crop on Saturday"!! Which, coincidentally leads me to my little announcement I promised early on in this post... we've got a crop coming up! And no, I'm not specifically talking about the one being held in stores this Saturday (April 14th), though you're more than welcome to join us then, too! 

But ...the one I'm talking about? This is the BIG ONE. Because as many of you who follow the scrapbooking calendar each year may already know, National Scrapbooking Day is coming up! And fast!!

National Scrapbooking Day 2012
Saturday, May 5th

The in-store celebration lasts all day--10am to 6pm at your local Cord Scrapbook Studio. We'll have make-n-takes, special coupons and promotional offers for EVERYONE! Plus, those of you who wish to hang out all day can join us for a 12-hour crop (10am to 10pm) and not only spend the day scrappin' it up, but take advantage of exclusive after-hours sales and maybe win some fabulous prizes!

Registration for the 12-hour crop is open now. The cost is $18 and includes a snack pack and bottled water, 4ft of crop space with a comfy (reclinable) chair and a special gift from us!

Hope to see you there!

Feelin' Lucky? We are!

Who's ready for another 12-hour crop? Anyone?! Anyone?!

Well... you're in LUCK. Because as LUCK would have it, we've got another one scheduled for Saturday, March 17th from 10am to 10pm.

That's right... 12 long hours of uninterrupted crop time at your local Cord Scrapbook Studio. Each cropper will have 4ft of crop space, a comfy reclinable chair, a complimentary snack pack and bottled water, and a special gift from us. But the real pot o' gold? Oh yes... that would be the exclusive after-hours cropper discounts. Holla!

So... remember how I told you yesterday that you'd want to prepare to mark your calendar? Well, you'll not only want to check your calendar and make plans with your scrappin' buddies, but you'll want to call your local store as soon as you get those plans confirmed. Our 12-hour crops do fill up quickly!

I'm pretty sure I've said this before, but I really don't mind saying it again. We feel pretty darn LUCKY to have what we feel is the best bunch of croppers--ever. You're our pot o' gold at the end of a scrappin' rainbow... and we can't wait to spend another morning+afternoon+evening sharing this fabulous hobby with you!

See you in March!

Allow me to introduce to you...

It's the blog post you've been waiting for since the first Design Team announcement back in December. And let me tell you... it's been an adventure from the start! We appreciate ALL of you who took the time to submit your work and/or enlisted your friends and family to participate! Thanks to YOUR votes and the votes of our sponsors, we've selected our Inaugural Team!

So without further adieu, I'd like to introduce them to you--or better yet, have them introduce themselves. :-) For more information about each designer, just click on their photo below and you'll be directed to their personal blog! 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Pretty soon we'll get things re-arranged here on the Scrapbook Studio blog so you'll have easy access to DT Member blogs on a regular basis. I don't know about you all, but I'm ready for some fresh inspiration!!

DT Members will be getting their supplies over the next couple of weeks and they'll be hard-at-work creating unique displays we'll be sharing with you here on the blog and in our stores! You'll start seeing the first wave of creations next month--excited?! I am. 

Happy Wednesday!

The #CHAShow Previews Continue w/ Basic Grey!

After a short, two-day blogging break, I'm back with yet another big preview for you! I know a lot of you have already seen some of these collections online and that in a way, some of this stuff is "old news" already. But, I thought it might be helpful to know what your local Cord Scrapbook Studio will be carrying with some updated ETA's and stuff. And so I press on...

For starters.... the layout for this month's Basic Grey Page of the Month class (Friday, February 17th @ 5:30pm) is posted above. Plus, we're THRILLED to announce that we'll be continuing to offer the Page of the Month program throughout the 2012-2013 term!!!

An all new batch of classes starts next month and they've added a few new things this year, including a special gift for anyone who attends all twelve classes in the series, exclusive bonus projects to help you use up all of the extra product you receive and new exclusive digital content--a fun, digital element each month that you can download and use either on your class layout or with the bonus project! 

We've got a special blog page dedicated to Page-of-the-Month updates, and this is where you'll find the current page being offered each month--complete with supply list--as well as pricing information & incentives, class dates, and a re-cap of past classes offered with a list of which kits may still be available.

At the CHA Show, Basic Grey introduced four new lines, two of which will ship at the end of this month and two shipping mid-late April. Each line is incredibly unique and has a "flavor" all it's own (in true, Basic Grey fashion!)

The first new line is a collection of mesmerizing fuchsia, cherry blossom pink, bonsai-tree green and soft sky blue. Picture It-- delicated clouds of white lotus fill the sky. Outdoor street markets are alive with dangling lanterns and vivacious colors. Original, angled rooftops and architecture line the streets... you must be in Japan! Welcome. Or more appropriately, "Konnichiwa!"

 
  

Also shipping in February is the new Plumeria collection...

Breathe in the deep hues and experience the calming effects of delicate florals, striking geometric shapes and watercolor-style prints in this blooming Plumeria collection.  An assortment of dusky lavender, dramatic midnight purple, mossy green and a thrilling pop of orange cascade through this line of long-stemmed imagination! Take time to stop and smell not only the roses, but all of the natural wonders found in this classically intriguing line!

  

The first of the next two collections--shipping in April--is PB & J.
(I think this one's my favorite of all of them...)

This line is jam-packed with a hearty helping of heartfelt style. It's the perfect blend of classic comfort and down-home design! As you prepare your creative spread using this signature collection, your options are limitless. Maybe a mixture of banana yellow and strawberry-preserves red is a personal favorite, or perhaps you're a fan of trimming away those crusts... No matter how you slice it, your sweet treat is sure to impress as you create paper objects and preserve your memories!

 
  

And last but not least... "What's Up"...

Something is surely in the air with this billowy group of nostalgic, whimsical prints featuring a parade of hot air balloons, a banner-filled skyline and jet planes zipping across the horizon. This fanciful and free-wheeling collection of lilac purple, sunrise turquoise, Parisian pink and a chip pop of poppy red is your ticket to take off on an around-the-world adventure. You’ll be consumed by that floating-at-the-festival feeling as your creativity balloons out of control!
 
  

And these are mere snippets of the goodies you can expect from these four new lines! There's a lot of new embellishment categories and a few suprises you'll see as we take a closer look here on the blog when products arrive.

Until then... sayonara!

    

Let the Voting Begin!

Due to various Facebook rules & restrictions regarding contests, we've moved the voting process for our Design Team to a different site. You can access the entries here.

Vote for your favorite layouts, cards and altered projects and help us choose the Design Team members you feel would best represent our stores! Vote for as few or as many entries as you choose, fill in the form at the bottom (for verification purposes) and you're done!

YOUR votes will make up a percentage of each applicant's overall score. Our Design Team sponsors will be voting as well--and I can't wait to tally the results!

Voting will be available through 11:59pm Friday, February 10th. Winners will be contacted Monday the 13th and we hope to announce the team Wednesday, February 15th!

Last Call for the SB Studio Design Team!

Howdy, fellow crafters! Just a quick announcement for y'all today concerning Cord Scrapbook Studio's Inaugural Design Team call. And that is...

***THERE'S ONE WEEK LEFT TO APPLY!!***

If you're interested in being a part of our first-ever Design Team, the deadline to submit entries/applications is next Tuesday, January 31st! You can find ALL of the information you need including requirements for applying, requirements for participating on the team and compensation for all your hard work on our Design Team info page, here.

We've pretty much spelled out what we're looking for on that page, but to keep it real, he's a few things we're NOT looking for...

A CERTAIN "FEEL".  Let's face it--everyone has a different style. There are different subjects you scrapbook, different products you reach for, different techniques you specialize in. And EVERYONE has a story to tell regardless of method. So don't be afraid to apply because you fear your style, your artistic "voice" is different from what you think we're looking for.

We do our best to inspire you--and we want to inspire you even MORE throughout 2012! But we can't possibly represent even the smallest smidgen of all of the creative possibilities that exist in this fabulous, paper-crafting world! And that's where you come in!

PERFECTION. When you scrapbook, you do so to tell YOUR story, YOUR way. So there is no perfect mold for anyone to fit into. So please, pretty please... don't be afraid to apply because you feel you're not "good enough". Like I said... EVERYONE has a story to tell!

Hopefully that eases your nerves a bit... Remember, as a local scrapbook store--we are nothing more than a community of scrapbookers who want to gather and share ideas that keep us all involved in this hobby and loving every moment of it! We represent YOU! And what better way to do so than to have YOU represented in our stores?!

DRAMA. We like to have fun and we're a pretty laid-back bunch. So this is not a popularity contest or a competition to see who ranks where among whom. We like what we do--scrapbooking, card-making, even a little dabbling in the altered arts. And we want YOU to like what you do, too!

And you know... we're flexible. Maybe you're not much of a card-maker, however you LOVE to scrapbook. But because of that one-card-a-month commitment for the Design Team, you're a little nervous about joining in for that reason. PLEASE don't fret! We can cater your DT commitment to suit your passion!!

Bottom line? This is probably one of the most exciting endeavors I've ever participated in here at Cord because it's a chance to see styles and techniques that differ from the ones we can provide from within. It's a chance to get to know other papercrafters in our community a little more and to show off their talents a bit! And at the very least, it's a chance to get some displays on our otherwise empty idea boards--and you know y'all have been asking for that one! :-)

ANYONE can apply. I hope you'll consider!
We looking forward to working with you!

Happy scrappin'!

Design Team News & FAQ's

After our Design Team Call went out last Friday, we've received several inquiries regarding the Design Team and the overall process, so I wanted to share a few of them with you today so everyone's on the same page! But first... a lil' shout-out to this season's Design Team sponsors!

Basic Grey

Bazzill

Bella Blvd

Bo Bunny

Jillibean Soup

Little Yellow Bicycle

We R Memory Keepers

This new Design Team adventure has been made possible by their commitment to inspiring papercrafters and by their support of our efforts to continually bring you the very best!

Therefore, these fabulous scrapbooking companies will be making up a part of our judges panel, so you'll want to pay close attention and maybe butter 'em up a bit by showing off all of the wonderful, fabulous, creatively crafty ways you've found to use your favorite products from their most recent collections! So let's send 'em a little DT love, shall we?!

Now... on to the FAQ's...
These questions (and any others that may come up over the next week or so) have been answered on our Design Team blog page which will be updated regularly with DT-related information.

What are you looking for in a Design Team Member?
We're looking for individuals that LOVE the art of papercrafting and are willing to share their talents with our customers (both in stores and online).  If you enjoy working with a variety of different products and materials, love to try out new techniques and stay up-to-date on industry trends, this could be a position you enjoy... and we would love to have you!

As mentioned above, the Judges Panel includes several of the industry's leading manufacturers--Basic Grey, Bella Blvd, Bo Bunny, Jillibean Soup, Little Yellow Bicycle and We R Memory Keepers (among others!) They'll be looking for designers that best utilize the products and tools they have to offer with designs that fit their "style" to a "T"! Does that mean you have to use only their products? NO! But doing so just might earn you a few extra brownie points...

What is involved in the selection process?
Design Team members will be chosen based on a combination of YOUR VOTES and a judges panel. The judges panel will be evaluating overall design & composition, the variety of products/techniques used, and photography. YOUR VOTES will be collected via Facebook "likes"--stay tuned, as submissions entries will be posted on Facebook February 1st!

Am I allowed to have my friends and family vote for my entries on Facebook? Absolutely! When it comes time to vote, they'll need to "like" the Cord Scrapbook Studio Facebook page, find your submissions and "like" their favorites! The total "likes" earned on Facebook will then make up a percentage of your total score.

Is there any experience required?
Nope. Anyone who fits the requirements and is up to the challenge is more than welcome to apply!

What are the requirements of a Design Team member?
Assignments will be distributed monthly and Design Team requirements can be found by clicking on the appropriate application link above. Local Design Team members are invited to teach classes and participate in community events for additional compensation, though these are not required.

If I'm chosen, how will I be notified?
Design Team members will be emailed the morning of February 8th. Once all positions have been accepted and contracts have been signed, we'll introduce the team here on the blog and assignments will be distributed to kick off the CHA Winter Season!

Please submit additional questions/inquiries by either commenting on this blog post or by emailing us at scrapbooking[at]cordcamera.com (substituting the @ where necessary). 

We can't WAIT to see your entries! Best of luck to everyone!