A Million Little Things

On Your Mark... get set... GO get some new Products!

ETA... to everyone that is noticing that some of the MME Penny Lane items are out, I will for sure be reordering these tomorrow (monday).  MME is a pick up order for me, and they are usually really fast.  I'll update here when I am able to restock them.  THanks!!!

Hi everyone!

I've finally finished up a long day of listing the MME Penny Lane.  Such a good feeling when those tedious MME's diecuts are all listed and accounted for!!  I just can't help it though as the are all so cute, especially from this line.  I have to admit just sitting and looking at some of them.  I particularly have a thing for the Free Bird Birdies... ahhh... I still have a sickness, owning a store really hasn't helped my fascination for staring at pretty paper items, it's just made it worse I think!!

Below are some new links to the new products listed in the past 2 days:

My Mind's Eye Penny Lane

My Mind's Eye BellaBella and Bloom and Grow

Imaginisce Summer Cool and Twitterpated

Various Mags and Idea books from Ck Media

That's all for today, enjoy the rest of your weekends!

January Guest Designer --- Danielle Layton!

Wasn't I just on here?  LOL, the night of sleep seems far too short sometimes!  I am excited this morning to welcome our guest Designer for January!  Please Welcome Danielle Layton!  I recall her telling me she goes by vtpuggirl on most message boards, so you may also know her by that :).

First let's get to know a little more about Danielle, Kristina has so kindly asked her the following questions:

1. How long have you been scrapbooking for?

Since I graduated physician assistant school in 2002. So, I've been scrapbooking for going on 7 years now. I've always loved paper and stickers, even as a child.

2. Who are your 3 favorite scrapbook manufacturers?

Cosmo Cricket, Scribble Scrabble, and Basic Grey. I've been fortunate to be on the design team for Cosmo Cricket and Scribble Scrabble. I get my Basic Grey fix from A Million Little Things!

3. Are you a fast scrapbooker or do you take your time when you create layouts?

It used to take me forever. Then I just decided that was no fun and kind of painful. Since I had my son, I only have naptime and evening/bedtime to scrapbook. So, what I can't finish during a nap or an evening, doesn't get done. So now I'm fast, like 1-2 hours max.

4. What inspires you?

Graphic design, type, colors, great photography, my son, music.

5. Describe your scrapbooking style in three words.

Ridiculously simple, really. :)

Danielle may have what she describes as a ridiculously simple style, but she has an amazing talent for using white space!  As I looked over her application layouts this kept standing out to me, so I asked her to focus her guest spot on tips for using your white space, keeping clean, but not boring.  Danielle has created a list of guidelines to clean and some great samples to go along with those guidelines, so without futher delay: 

"guidelines to clean."

5 Tips and Tricks to creating Clean looking layouts:

1. White space is your friend, however, white space doesn't need to be white or even be cardstock. It can be patterned paper and using patterned paper as a background actually gives the layout a bit of character too.

 

 
2. Group the important parts of your layout together-the title, the photos, the journaling, the embellishments. It's less for your eye to search all over for.

 
3. Let some parts (titles, embellishments) gain attention from hanging out in the white space.

 

4. When in doubt, frame it. Everything looks a little bit cleaner, and more finished with a frame or border.

5. Understand your personal clean quota. If you don't like your house to be super neat and organized, you probably won't love it if your pages are that way too. And that's ok. Everyone has a different level of messy that they can live with, figure out what your tolerance is and then embrace it. I know I couldn't change mine if I tried. And I've tried.

These are great tips!  I especially like the last one, as I am one of those not so clean and organized types (I try really!) that can take heart!  Thanks Danielle!

If you would like to see more of Danielle's work you can visit her blog at http://vtpuggirl.blogspot.com/

Happy Friday Everyone!

CHA Show Wrap-up

Hi Everyone

Well i'm a day and a bit past being back and long overdue on my CHA wrap up post.  I hit the ground running from the airplane and it seems like I never correctly estimate the amount of time catching up takes!  First and top priority was those two little boys that I missed so much.  Since I don't have a personal blog I'm going to take a mom bragging moment because my 6th grader just won his school science fair tonight and I couldn't be more proud of him!   He is not your typical straight A student which makes it even more sweet!  My friends he is the perfect example that ANYTHING can be done if we just want it bad enough and work hard enough for it, I am inspired!  Thank you for letting me share, I'll try not to post personal things too often, but I couldn't resist tonight.  

Second on my list, all of the orders placed while we were gone have now been shipped, now I can tell you about the show!  I really did intend to blog while I was away, post photos etc., but we  cut our trip a day short this time and it seemed like I was pressed for time and frazzled more than usual.  I apologize, I am sure you have seen photos all over this great and wonderful internet already!  The show was good, there are lots of fun new things that will be coming to the store.    We have stretched our dollars and came in UNDER budget for a change to which I am thrilled as I never manage that!  That should leave me hopefully a bit for reorders if and when products sell out.  It seems like quite a bit less was released that normally is.  That can't be a bad thing as in my opinion there are some manufacturers that could stand to cut back just a bit as there is far to much to choose from.  

It is again hard for me to pick a favorite or favorites.  I appreciate all of your comments last week, it was nice to know what you like since we are all so different and have such a wide range of tastes.   I read things people hated that I really actually liked and I am sure vice versa.  I will be adding a few new companies to the manufacturer list this time around as well!  I am going to post a list below of Companies I have ordered from below.  I didn't order entire lines from all of them so I will do my best to lay that out as well.   Keep in mind some companies have alot of individual items so I may forget something.  My ship date list is a bit of a rough draft right now.  I took notes, but everything tends to blend together when you visit so many booths.  Ordering, getting all the necessary ship, discount, info, taking photos is alot of steps and sometimes we miss some of them.  I'll make some phone calls in the coming week for things I am not positive on.  If you don't see something you really want on my list your are please more than welcome to email me, if I get enough requests I will be more than happy to bring it in to AMLT.  I had to shop a bit differently this time, and while I think I did a pretty good job, I am not past missing something or goofing up for sure!

So without further rambling:

AMLT CHA WINTER 2009 Order List:

• 3 Bugs --  All new paper lines -- coming within 2 weeks

• Adornit -- Items from Aunt Mame, Dance Collection and Fern Collection (*super cute owls!)

• 7 Gypsies -- most items ordered, -- sporatic ship dates from now to may

• American Crafts -- Backyard, Craft Fair, Thickers, stickers and some embellishments from Baby and the Font line. -- most items coming this month

• Basic Grey -- All 4 new lines, limited edition dollar stamp line, bling line, and rubon/bling line.  Marrakech and Porcelain will be coming in February, the rest in April.

• Bazzill -- New Swiss Dot Colors, Just the edge 3, In Stitches Flourish Templates

• Bella Blvd -- All Paper items.  I ordered even the older items in this line, thanks to Stephanie's awesome discount ,and I missed their October Debut -- coming in February

• Bo Bunny -- Abbey Road,  Alissa, Love Shack, U Bug Me, It's my party, paper, some stickers, rubons, epoxy brads

• Chatterbox -- Most new items

• Cloud 9 -- 2 new paper and embellishment collections, coming March and April

• Cosmo Cricket -- embellies and other items still to come.  Girl Friday was restocked earlier this week  other items mid february

• Crate Paper -- all new items -- coming March

• Creative Imaginations -- New Narraritives items (BOO Karen's last items!), Creative Cafe items, some items from the DIsney release, namely the mini Thicker type thickers!

• Daisy Bucket -- Monsters anyone?  coming February

• Doodlebug -- Candy Shoppe Letter Stickers and mini rubons, Confections Collection, Sweet Treats Collection, Cherries Jubilee Collection ,Strawberry Parfait Collection, Tuti Fruitii Collection, Key Lime Collection, Seaside Collection, Zoofari Collection all coming in April

• Ek Sucess -- COOL new fold up border punches

• Fancy Pants --  All new paper, stickers, and rubons, mixed media books, journaling books, stamps. (Basically everything except for frames) -- coming in February and March

• Fiskars -- New punches, coming in February

• GCD Studios -- Chic Bebe, Cloisonne, Provence, Canta, Debonair paper lines and various letter stickers, coming soon

• Graphic 45 -- 3 new paper collections

• Imaginisce -- Summerlovin and twitterpated (I'll list tomorrow)

• Hambly -- Select overlays, rubons, stickers

• Heidi Grace --  Sweetest Bug  coming in February

• Heidi Swapp - most new items.. go check out her new  Invisible papers and watch her demo on her blog www.heidiswapp.typepad.com!  Wow these are SOOOO cool when you see them used!

• Jenni Bowlin -- all new items, coming in February

• Jillibean Soup (for you Cass!) -- Journaling Cards, letter stickers, 3 new paper lines

• K& Co -- Wild Raspberry, Que Sera Sera, and some items from Actopus to Zelephant

• Ki Memories -- Friendship and Juicy Summer

• Little Yellow Bicycle -- Travel line, select items from Baby boy and girl, journaling books

• Making Memories -- most new items

• Martha Stewart -- Border Punches

• Maya Road -- most items except acrylics

• My Little Shoebox -- Most items

• My Minds EYe -- all items... I'll list them TOMORROW!

• Pebbles -- It's been awhile since I've carried pebbles products, but they have some really cute new paper, that is a really new look for Pebbles

• Pink Paislee -- Most new items

• Prima -- most new paper, some flowers, pearl swirls, Donna Downey's Cavas line and more

• Reminisce -- Monkies anyone??

• Sassafras-- entire line

• Scribble Scrabble -- Evelyn and Carmen

• Scenic Route -- Garden Grove

• Sei -- Travel and Playground line

• Technique Tuesday -- ALi's new stamps, and select mini stamps

• Teresa Collins -- Most new papers,stickers, and overlays

• We R -- Tiffany's and Heartbreaker (which should be here next week)

• Websters Pages -- 2 new paper lines and letter stickers

• a note on October Afternoon... I've not ordered it yet as I haven't been able to see a catalog yet.  Many of you may have heard of their no show to CHA.  A bummer since that was my first stop... an empty booth.  I hope they will post a catalog soon!  I will order what I have seen so far, but don't have enough faith to order anything site unseen anymore!

• I will most likely ordering Collage Press when it is available also

So hopefully I have not forgotten too much!  I'll try to update expected ship dates sooner rather than later.  :)

Tip for today...

Hello, Elizabeth here!

So often we place a big emphasis on the title of a layout, rarely do we see a layout without one. I challenge you to create a layout because of the memory, the photo, the journaling, the design, whatever it is that motivates you and not be concerned that there be a perfect title. I created this layout without a real title in mind and found that it still 'worked'.

Patterned paper - SEI

Lace Cardstock - KI Memories

Chipboard - Scenic Route

Stars - KI Memories

Journaling card - My Mind's Eye

Sticker - 7gypsies

4 Product Challenge

Happy Friday, everyone! Kristina here! Today I'm posting a 4 Product Challenge that myself and three other design team members - Amanda, Elizabeth and Katie -  took part in. It was so much fun! Jill sent all of us the same 4 products - patterned paper from SEI, American Crafts Thickers from the Teen line, epoxy buttons from Making Memories and some ball trim. Here is a photo of the goodies we each had to use:

Here's what each of us did with the products:

Amanda:

Elizabeth:

 

Katie:

Kristina:

So there you have it! It's so awesome to see the same four products used in such different ways! We hope that this inspires you to pull out your scrapbook goodies (even if it is just four!) and challenge yourself to creating something! It's so much fun to do! Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to keep checking out the Sneak Peeks photo album here on the blog on the right hand side. There are so many new goodies coming out! Be on the lookout for them to be appearing in the store in the near future!

Winner/Sneaks/New Products/PLEASE HELP!

hi Everyone

My head is spinning, literally!  So much to do in so few hours left before we leave for the show so I'll try to make this quick.

The winner of the little Mag lot was just drawn..#24, that's Denise Turner!  Congrats Denise.  If you would just quickly email me at info@amillionlittlethings.com to give me your shipping address.

I would like to take a minute to tell you all how wonderful Kristina is!  She does so much for this team as our dt coordinator, and she has really bailed me out this week!  I haven't had much time to surf and search for sneak peeks, but thanks to her our sneak peek folder on the side is brimming with great things coming out at the show.  I don't know that all of them AMLT will carry, but most for sure.  After the show I will do a wrap up post and let you know what is coming and approximatley when.  Thanks again Kristina for always being willing to do any crazy thing I ask! 

I have to tell you I am really looking forward to some new stuff, in fact it is already coming!  If you haven't noticed there are some new items that went in the store last night.  I am loving the new cosmo paper, it is soooooooooooooo much nicer in person, and it looks nice on screen, so that is a plus!  I just got a call from My Minds Eye, and they have an order ready for me to pick up already.  OY OY.  I can't promise I can get it in the store until after I return, especially Penny Lane because of all the diecuts, but it will be ready to buy here at AMLT right when we return next week!!  If I can steal and extra hour or so from orders that need to ship before we leave, and cleaning (my mom will be staying here with the boys, so the house needs to be extra nice to impress mom!) I'll try to at least get Bella Bloom and Bloom and Grow Listed.

Please remember that orders placed after 12 noon today (thursday 1 hour from when I am posting this) will not ship until next week.   We return Wednesday, so most likely we will be shipping again starting on Thursday morning.  All orders will ship in the order they are received.  I appreciate your patience in our absence.  Please note that all orders placed Wednesday and Thursday before noon WILL be shipping on Friday unless you ask otherwise.

Here is a link to everything new I listed last night:

Making Memories Flower Patch

Rusty Pickle Chocolate Covered Cherries

Scrapbooks Etc Feb/Mar Issue

Cosmo Cricket Papers

So here is where I need your help!  Please take a minute to leave me a comment and tell me what your favorite "sneak peeks" you have seen so far are. I doesn't necessarily have to be something shown in our sneaks folder either, anything you have seen counts!!  What things do you see yourself absolutely having to save up for/add to your stash list?  Everyone who reads this please comment... pretty please??  Hearing from you is the best way for me to make the right decisions at this show.  I trust my instincts, for the most part, but the customers word wins!! :)

Thank you so much to everyone for your support of A Million Little Things!

{mini layouts}

Morning everyone, Amanda here.  Like most scrapbookers, I tend to have a few super weeks of scrapbooking and then get a little bored (ever happen to you?)  I love making projects, but sometimes they can be bulky to display and time consuming.  

A few years ago, when I was bored with my normal 8 1/2 X 11 size, I dabbled in mini-layouts.  They are so simple and quick I couldn't believe how many I could turn out in no time.  If you get stumped making one, turn back to a larger layout that you love and try to shrink it down. 

Here are a few examples of mini layouts I have displayed around my office at work.  The cream and red polka dot is 3 1/4 X 3 1/4, the purple one is 5 X 5 and the die-cut one is about 4 X 4. 

There are endless options for displaying them; go to you local office supply store for clips with flat bottoms or look at antique stores for vintage flower frogs.

I am a "close up" picture taker and with my favorite pictures I go ahead and print them in either 2 X 2 or wallet size.  It is easy to crop off a 4 X 6 if it isn't a close up shot.

All of these embellishments are items I would use on a larger layout, therefore I am sure you all have tons of items like these in your stash!  But if you just feel the need to buy some more, make sure you check out the A Million Little Things Store as you will find some lovely new items and great bargains!

One Minute Monday

Here's my tip of the day... When I get something new and fancy (like the glittery butterfly lace from KI Memories and the glittery Thickers) I like to look through my stuff to see if I can find something that will go together with it. I really like series that match, don't misunderstand me, but I like mixing and matching myself even more! Taking a minute to go "hunting" is fun and often rewarding. Who would have thought that these retro felt flowers from American Crafts could look so romantic for example? 

US Postal System Rate Increase /Info/Answers/ AND A PRIZE!

Good morning everyone.

If you order from AMLT, or plan to order from us anytime in the near future, or have even thought about ordering from us PLEASE take a minute to read the post below.  It is packed with valuable information about shipping rates/policies and more.  Thank you!

I knew about this in November, but it seemed to sneak up on me and today I realize that we have reached the day of another US Postal System Rate Increase.  Effective on your orders today Sunday January 18 you will see those rates in effect.  THere are a couple of VERY important things to remember..

1. I still am charging actual shipping on your orders.  I do not, nor have ever sought ought to make money off any of my customers through shipping charges.  That will never, ever happen at AMLT.  I know many companies do this, including a great many of the wholesalers I buy from.  I KNOW what it is like to see outrageous shipping charges, and I vow to you that your shipping rate will be what I pay to send your box.  I want you to spend your shipping dollars on stash, not on unecssesary shipping.  That means the shipping rate with the shipping carrier I use and the cost of any boxes or packing I must use.  If I use the priority boxes they are free and I charge only an average of .25 to .50 on top of the shipping rate for paper bags, packing material etc.  If I have to use a box we buy (non priority) the  boxes I use are no more than $1.00 on top of your shipping charge.  I have had this policy for 5 years-- the entire time I have been in business and will not change it. 

2. Shipping estimates you see on your invoices are just that estimates.  I know some of them come in really high from time to time, but please know that they are always adjusted by either an adjustment before your cards or charged (all cards charged at shipment), or a credit back to your paypal account if you use paypal.   It is extremely difficult to acount for the weight of some items, namely paper, as it is very small in weight when you place in on the scale, but it always has to be packed in a box to protect it.  So we use what we have found to be the best case weight to account for this box.  This sometimes will throw the estimates off.  We also use all flat rate items if your order fits and it is cheaper for you.  Flat rates are not listed on the shipping tables as options as we are the only ones that know whether the order will fit, but we do use them, and we do pass on any savings by using them to you.

3. Shipping is free within the US for order $75 or more, and discounted by usually at least $9 for any order outside the US over $75.

4. IF you have placed an order before SUnday January 18 and the rate change and it has not shipped yet due to us, I will still honor the shipping estimate on your invoice.

The rate increase this time is relatively small, especically since I do get commerical shipping from the post office due to my volume and I do pass this savings on to you.  Here is an idea of the new prices for flat rates:

US Flat Rate Envelope -- $4.80

US Flat Rate Box -- $9.85( free if you spend over $75)

International Flat Rate Box -- $39.90 ($30.90 if you spend over $75)

International Flat Rate Envelope --$ 12.50

Canada/Mexico Flat Rate Box --$24.75 (15.75 if you spend over $75)

Please understand that these are not the only shipping options available, these are just the flat rate boxes. I still will use first class mail, parcel mail,  and cheaper priority rates if they are available.  You are always welcome to leave me notes in the comments box to let you know if items don't fit in flat rates before I ship, or to ship with the cheapest method possible.  This is especially true for international customers.  THere are many times an order boxed and weighed will come in light enough for first class mail, but the estimate was over 4 lbs and the customer picked priority because it was the only options available.  If you leave me a note to ship with the cheapest method possible I will know it is ok to use the first class option. 

This brings up an interesting debate as to why I use the post office for 90% of packages, instead of other carriers.  The reason is simple to me, for the most part shipping is much faster and still cheaper with the post office.  For example, and order shipping to anywhere back east (we ship from the SLC, UT area) will take 6 days with either fedex or UPS.  I can use a flat rate box for the same price or very often less, even with the rate increase and the customer can have it in 2 -3 days.  It is actually more work for me to use the post office as we still have to drop off packages with them (but not wait in line luckily), but I am more than willing to do that for my customers for faster and less expensive shipping.   

So now here is where I ask all of you, particualrly US customers, (as international rates are not even close to pretty going overseas with UPS or Fedex) would you be interested in us adding another method of shipping as an option to checkout?  I do have a volume discount with fedex ground, but UPS has yet to give me a decent rate because I can't promise them all of my volume, so I most likely would only add fedex ground.  Leave me a comment and let me know, you can also leave your comment to win the collections of magazines below, as it seems I just don't feel right without giving something away each week!  This is the current issue of ST, the Page Planner Sketch book which is one of my favorites, and 2 great digital idea books you might not have tried as you are a paper scrapper, but there are some great tips for the novice digi (like me!) and expert digi alike.  I'll pick a winner on Thursday 1-22.

  

ONE LAST NOTE... Remember our sale ends tomorrow January 19 at midnight mountain time!  We will be away from the store Saturday January 24- Wednesday January 28 to attend the CHA WINTER TRADE SHOW.  Orders will not ship during that time.  Orders must be placed by Thursday January 22 at 10 am mountain time to be shipped before we leave.  All orders placed after that time will ship when we return starting in the order they were placed. 

If you have questions about USPS's new shipping rates or any of our policies please feel free to email me at info@amillionlittlethings.com

Thanks!

Jill

Sketch #3

Hey guys, Courtney here! Just finished my first week back at school, though we had two days off due to bad weather. And I just saw another treetop fall in the backyard! So, while things get crazy, sometimes that simple sketch keeps things together. Here is how our team interpreted this easy sketch:   

 

Elizabeth:

 

Katie:

 

Amanda:

 

Kristina:

 

Rebekah:

 

And I did two because the first one I had a measuring error, who actually uses that measure twice cut once philosophy... psssh. And sorry about the tilt, my scanner has a drinking problem and is seeking treatment via severe cursing, shaking, and smacking by owner.