HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

SI&M has now become the place to get handmade invitations. We have been working on coming up with a unique way to keep the "invitations" part of our name alive. We all want creative and unique invites for all types of occasions and we, here at SI&M, think we have come up with a great way to get that! We are making hand made invitations for lots of different categories and packaging them in sets of 10. We are very excited about this and the endless possibilities that it holds! I thought that I would post a sample of one of the new invitations. This one, appropriately so, can be used as a New Year's invite or anything type of celebratory party. Hope you like them!!

A TESTAMENT!

Thousands of Scrapbookers across the nation have been helped by the Get Organized Challenge. Here are just a few of the comments we’ve received:

What a difference. This class works! — Gwen

It’s working for me! Now I can spend my time making pages and cards and having much more fun. No more hassles — and now I’m not purchasing NEW because I can’t find the OLD!. — Kathy

I used to feel guilty because of all the stuff I had stashed. But I could never find what I was looking for, so always had to buy more. I finally just closed the door and walked away. Then, my friend got me to take the challenge with her. It felt so good to get rid of the things I didn’t want (I made a bundle at a yard sale), and now I can shop my stash at home before buying new. I actually enjoy scrapbooking again. Thank you! — Connie

Now that I can finally access my photos and other items, I’m scrapbooking more frequently — and getting more done. — Brenda

Sign up for the Get Organized Challenge TODAY — And you won’t be
disappointed. Remember, you have nothing to lose, except the mess.

SI&M NEWS

Remember... We do sell gift certificates here!! That is a great way to please your scrapbooker!!! Don't forget... Saturday is our last business day before Christmas, so make sure you get your shopping done before then! We will be closed Christmas Eve & Day. New Year's Eve we will be closing @ 2:00 and then we will be closed New Year's Day!! We believe that this is a time to spend with loved ones, so we hope you enjoy yours!!

Also... we have scheduled our classes for the month of January and we are very excited about the things we have going on!! Make sure to check that out on the Calendar!!

IT'S A SHAME!

I must admit that this is my (valerie's) scrapbook area at home. I have the perfect spot... this is one side of my sun room, which gives me plenty of light. This space is not so big that it takes over my home, but also not so small that I have no room to work. If only it were organized. I even have a pretty good system going, but it fell apart long ago. I need help just as much as anyone else!!!! So you better believe I am also going to be participating in the "Get Organized Challenge" in Jan. What a good (actually reachable) resolution to make this year!! Yeah... I'm in the mood to get organized! What have you got to lose but the mess?!?! (i like their little slogan!! lol!)

JAN. CLASSES!!

We have now scheduled the classes for January!!
Jan. 19 ---- Clear Acrylic Album ---- 10am - 12pm ---- $32
Jan. 19 ---- Intro to Scrapbooking ---- 1:30 - 3:30 ---- $15
Jan. 26 ---- Altered Window Workshop ---- 10:00 - 1:00 ---- $30
See the Calendar of Events for more information of these classes!! Don't forget the Get Organized Challenge Series, as well!!

PAPER BOW DIRECTIONS

Paper Bows:
6" x12" piece of double sided patterned paper
paper cutter
pop-up glue dots
Adhesive
Brads (3)
1/16" Circle punch

Cut 8 strips of 1" x 6", 4 strips of 1" x 5", and 1 strip of 1" x 4". It is important to cut the 1" x 4" strip before cutting the 1" x 5" strips.
Take 4 - 1" x 6" strips with pattern "A" face up and put adhesive on one end of each strip.
Take the other 4 - 1" x 6" strips with pattern "B" face up and put adhesive on one end of each strip.
Take the 4 - 1" x 5" strips with pattern "A" face up and put adhesive on one end of each strip.
Take the 1" x 4" strip with pattern side "B" face up and put adhesive on one end.
Wrap the 1" x 6" strips and the 1" x 5" strips end to end on an angle to make like a cone shape.
Wrap the 1" x 4" strip one end to the other end straight to make a circle. (This will be the center of your bow).
Use the 1/16" circle punch to punch a hole at the bottom of each "petal" (remember to keep your strips separate. Don’t mix your 6" and your 5" strips together)
Use a brad to attach the petals together. 4 "petals" for each brad.
Place a pop-up glue dot in the center of each layer and stack each layer by alternating patterns. Finish bow by placing the 1" x 4" strip in the middle.

* Thanks Karen for sharing!!

GET ORGANIZED CHALLENGE!

The Get Organized Challenge... are you ready for it? This will be a four-class series all about organization. We will be talking about how to organize your paper, photos, tools & supplies, embellishments & how to prepare for a crop, plus more! The entire series will only be $20 and will include The Organized & Inspired Scrapbooker, which is a great book by Simple Scrapbooks! We are all so excited about this challenge... in fact I think most of the employees will be participating. We will also be giving personal examples and ideas! The series will begin Thursday, Jan. 10 and will continue each Thursday for the rest of the month. You can begin signing up today!! What have you got to lose but the mess?!?!

MERRY QUICKUTZ!!

Quickutz Club was so much fun tonight! We had tons of goodies, cookies and cakes! They decorated little cookie boxes of all kinds. They also participated in a white elephant gift exchange which was lots of fun!

Karen Gloster was kind enough to teach us all how to create homemade gift bows... how cool is that?!?! I will be sure to put these directions and photos of these on the blog later this week!! keep an eye out!

HAPPY HOUR PROJECT!

This is the happy hour project for this week... it's a Christmas door hanger or ornament!! Love it... it's so cute. A photo goes on top of the red matte! $2... check the calendar for times!!

HOSTESS GIFT IDEA

A few days ago, I was talking about what to do for some hostess gifts that I had need for. I knew that I could always gor for a bottle of wine, but I wanted to do something different. One of our very smart customers suggested that I do note cards. She said that she did several packs of 10 cards with the hostess' initials on it and that it what she was bringing to all of her holiday parties this year! I loved the idea! I have a party this weekend with some of my best friends from college and I thought these would be perfect. I did these very funky... Love, Elsie Zoe. I love them. This girl is also getting married in a few months, so I did 5 cards with her initials now and then 5 with her future initials, so that she could use some after the wedding as well.