Reminder!

Just a quick reminder. Our class and crop is coming up fast! Details are below!

Saturday, November 22
Upper Alton Baptist Church
2726 College Avn, Alton, IL

Class begins at noon and ends at 2. Crop till 5 after the class!

Cost of class and crop - $30. Crop only - $12

Snacks and drinks provided.

Please RSVP by posting a note to our blog or emailing us at kreativleyours@yahoo.com.

Hope to see you there!

Question for you...Storage Solutions

So I'm getting ready to set up a new space for myself. Right now I know I need a table and some shelving. I want the space to be cozy and inviting...so maybe a new rug and some frames to hang pictures of people I love around me. But that's about all I can come up with. Steff just set an amazing new space for her scrapbooking area. She has peg board all around the room to hang up ribbons and tools. So that's something else to think about. However, I'm in a smaller space and need it to be functional and not too cluttered. Anyone have any tips or tricks on setting up this space? What do you do with ribbon to keep it contained? What do you do with inks and stamps to keep them together and organized?? Send us your ideas and suggestions! If I use something from one of our customers, I'll post pictures of my updated space out here on our blog!

Happy Scrapping :)

November Crop and Class is coming up!

As promised our October Class and Crop night has been rescheduled.

Please join us on Saturday, November 22nd at noon for our November Class and Crop. We will be teaching the recipe box class from noon to 2. After 2pm you can stay and crop till 5pm. Supplies such as ink, stamps and other fun items will be available for your use.

The class and crop will be held at:
Upper Alton Baptist Church, 2726 College Avn., Alton, IL.

Please RSVP by Wednesday, November 19th if you can make it. The cost of the class and crop is $30. If you are interested in just cropping, the cost will be $12 and please plan to arrive at 2pm.

We hope to see everyone there!!

Questions for You-

What are you organization solutions?

Being organized can be a key element to being an effective scrapbooker. Some people are lucky enough to have designated rooms while others simply have totes and other contraptions to help keep them organized. Today we want to know, What are your organization solutions?

Bryan & Steff Celebrate Two Years

It’s been two years since our wedding day and while pictures have started to fade…The memories and our light continues to shine.

In some ways it’s really hard for me to believe it’s been two years. So much of our wedding and the time leading up to our wedding is so fresh in my mind…It could have happened yesterday. I can’t help but smile at the memories. I’ll never forget waiting in the bride’s room for the wedding to begin, watching my bridesmaids go down the isle one by one, standing in the hall, just dad and I, waiting for the ushers to open the door, the calmness that I felt once Bryan had my hand, lighting our unity candle and finally being pronounced husband and wife. In our minds, especially at the time, the day couldn’t have gone better.

In other ways a lot has happened in two years and sometimes I feel like it’s been ten. I’m sure that Bryan feels the same way! We’ve grown a lot in these past two years. Some of it has been trial and error. Some of it has just been error. We’ve learned a lot about true friends, loving each other first, incorporating God into our lives, managing our money…like adults, communicating, sacrificing, making important decisions, supporting each other, but most of all we’ve learned to live in the present day and enjoy this moment because thing can change so very quickly!

I couldn't be more proud of the people we've became, the love we share, the friends we have and the life we have built. I would call it a successful year two!

Flickr

I don’t know about you guys, but I take a lot of pictures. It started when I was constantly taking pictures to scrapbook. After that it started to turn into a hobby. I have noticed that when I have interesting pictures, my page is more interesting. So I am constantly challenging myself to take better photos.

After awhile all of those photos start of fill up the camera. So my question for you is, What do you do with all of your pictures? If you’re like me you take your card to a photo center, print the pictures, bring home the CD and store it somewhere. After all of our pre/post wedding festivities, I noticed that I had a lot of CD’s. Which got me thinking…What will I do if one of these CD’s get lost or damaged. The pictures are gone for good. I knew that I didn’t want to put them on my computer because the computer could crash and we would also risk losing them for good. Not to mention that it would fill up the memory…FAST!

That’s when I discovered the website for Flickr. Flickr is hosted by Yahoo and is a photography storing/sharing site. Depending on the amount of pictures you have it’s free. After a certain amount there is a yearly charge. I feel that it is completely worth it. Once your account is created you can upload your pictures.

Flickr has a lot to offer. There are so many features that I haven’t even discovered yet. However, from what I do know here are some of my favorites:

-Unlimited Storage (for a minimal fee)

-Editing by PicNik

-Several Organizing Features

-Online Ordering with Delivery to Your House or Pick up at a Local Target

-Easy To Share

-Networking Capabilities

You can learn more about Flickr at www.flickr.com.

Class Update

It has come to our attention that the attendance for our upcoming class is a little low! Due to this issue, we are moving our event to November. We believe this may give others the chance to join us!

The date for our November class isn't quite ready yet. But we will post something as soon as possible! We look forward to seeing you in November!

Thanks so much!
Jess and Steff

Unrelated to Scrapbooking

It may be hard for you to believe, but our lives don’t revolve around scrapbooking (completely). With that said, sometimes we’ll post something completely unrelated to scrapbooking. More than anything it’s a story that we want to share with you. The post might be something we have recently experienced, a fun weekend we had, a special person that we want to recognize, something exciting going on in our lives, tips on going green, you get the idea! So without further ado:

Bob Rybarczyk writes the column Suburban Fringe for the St. Louis Post Dispatch. I have to tell you…it’s hysterical. Jessie first sent me the link to a column he wrote about his wife’s bad hair cut. I could not contain my laughter. It was hilarious. I sent it to everyone I knew. From that day on, the two of us have read his weekly column.

A new story is posted every Tuesday. It never fails that there will be emails flying around between the two of us come Tuesday morning. Typically, we will highlight the lines that we found funny and then direct the other to his column. Usually the subject line of our emails will say something like:

Bob Strikes Again

OMG, I Can’t Stop Laughing!!!

LOL, LOL, LOL

Too Funny

HILARIOUS!

O!M!G!

Check out his column. You’ll be glad you did.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/lifestyle/Columnists.nsf/Columnist/Suburban+Fringe?OpenDocument

Oh! Don’t forget to let us know what you think!

Preggo update from Jess

Appointment Number 2!

On October 3rd we had our second appointment. Like our first visit, this visit was great! We were both excited again to hear what Dr. Talsky would tell us about our progress. We were now 15 weeks and 2 days. He thought I was about the 16 weeks in size. The baby’s heartbeat was a sure and steady 160. It was just as amazing the second time…and it was easier to find this time around too. I’m almost big enough to measure. The most exciting part of this visit besides hearing that little heart beat and that we were doing great was that it was time to schedule our ultrasound! On October 29 we go for our first picture of the baby! We cannot wait!

This week I'll be 17 weeks! The baby is doing a lot of growing and starting to prepare for the last 23 weeks of the pregnancy. It seems crazy to think that our baby will be here in just another 23 weeks!

Class and Crop Night Reminder!

This month’s Class and a Crop Night is coming up fast!!! This event is different than our last few. This month we are incorporating both a class and crop into our evening.

The class will begin at 6pm. During the class portion we will be creating a Recipe Box with inserts. This will be perfect homemade gift to give during the upcoming holiday season. Please see our blog at www.kreativleyours.blogspot.com for full color photos. The boxes will be made in a color scheme of your choice. Choices are Reds and/or Pinks, Greens, Blue Browns, or Yellows.

After the class you can stay till midnight and crop using our inks, stamps and other tools. Snacks and drawings will keep the night fun and keep ya going!

The cost for both the Crop and the Class will be $30 per person. If you would like to attend just the class, the cost will still be $30 as we will provide snack for all. We expect the class to last approximately 2 or 2.5 hours. If you would like to just come and crop, the cost will be $10.

This month’s event will be held at Upper Alton Baptist Church 2726 College Avenue, Alton, IL 62002 on Friday, October 24th from 6pm to 12am. In order for us to purchase the appropriate amount of supplies we will need all class participants to RSVP. Please RSVP to us by emailing (kreativleyours@yahoo.com) or commenting on our blog. RSVP's are appreciated by Monday, October 20. When you RSVP be sure to let us know what color scheme you would like to have for your recipe box!

We look forward to you joining us!

Question For You...

So enough from us...we want to hear from YOU! Here's our question:

How do you do pages for less? Whether it's using less glue, creating your own embellishments, or simply using more scraps...we're always interested in ways to save a little extra cash! What ideas work for you?

Please share with us on our blog. Let's see how many ways there are to save!

Out With the Old...In With the New

The Old:
When Bryan and I bought our first house we knew that it wouldn't be our forever house. I still remember when we drove by the "Open House" sign and Bryan suggested we go. I, of course, thought he was insane. Since when are we buying a house? As he turned down the road he said, "Oh come on. It will be like looking at a new car. You don't have to buy it."

Well, we bought it.

At the age of 22 & 20 we were home owners. At the time we didn't know anything about owning a home, down payments, taxes, home owners insurance etc. But, it worked out great. We slowly turned the 800 sq ft. place into our home. We've painted every surface inside that house…Some rooms twice. We (me being the supervisor and Bryan & his dad being the workers) remodeled the kitchen. Bryan put some hard work into the bathroom and we've put some sweat into the yard.

For the last 3 1/2 years 564 Sitze has been our home. It was our first place together, the place that we brought our puppy (might as well be our child) home to, the place that we planned our wedding, celebrated birthday's and Christmas. It is the place that we came home to after our wedding. We've hosted movie and game nights, family dinners, BBQ's and the First Annual Linoski Fall Bash. If the walls of 564 Sitze could talk they probably wouldn't always have great things to say. But, then again…They just might. I'm sad to leave. As I look back at the people who we were when we first moved in, I can't help but be proud of our accomplishments and achievements thus fur. I'm excited for what the future will bring, but sad to close that chapter of our book.

The New:
It really wasn't long after we moved into our house that we realized just how small it was. Since there isn't a garage, basement and only one closet…Space is an issue. Just a few things scattered about can make the house look like a total wreck. After three Christmas' and our wedding the attic was getting full! Anything that we got as a gift that we didn't have space for…Went to the attic. This winter/spring we decided to start looking for a house. The goal was to try and move by the fall. After looking at several different places we realized that this task could be very daunting. After all, we were pretty picky this time around. Our want list included a basement, garage, nice sized yard, at least 4 bedrooms, at least 2 bathrooms and a fire place. Bryan wanted to stay in Rosewood Heights and I wanted to be out in the country. The more we looked…The less we found.

Bryan's parents neighbors were moving and Bryan had suggested more than once that we look at the house before it got put on the market. He'd liked it since he was a kid. After much resistance from me, we finally looked at the house. It really didn't take long (about ten minutes) for us to decide that this was the house for us. The current owners wouldn't be able to move until the fall and that worked perfect for us because it gave us time to sell our house.

Six months later…We're moving! Over the last few months our current house has been emptied into a storage shed, we've almost sold our house a few times and we've done lots of shopping for the new house. We're both so excited! Closing day is October 9th! We're really excited about the space, garages, fenced in yard, separate bathrooms and basement.

As difficult as it is to leave our new house, we're ready to start this new chapter in our lives.

Website’s That We Love

We decided that it would be a lot of fun to share some of our favorite websites with you. I recently discovered www.scrapbooksetc.com. This website is a product of Better Homes and Gardens. There is also a Scrapbooks Etc. magazine. But, that's for another post.

When I first checked this website out I loved it because there was tons of information and it was easy to navigate. Here are some of the things that I discovered on this site:

Free Page Sketches
This tool allows you to sketch out your page before you even begin to scrapbook. I haven't used this feature, but I plan too! I think it will be a great way to be organized. When you sit down to do your page it will be all planned out which will help the production process go quicker. I'm also excited about this feature because it will keep my pages fresh. Sometimes I tend to repeat some of the same layouts and techniques. I'm looking forward to using this tool to prevent this!

Printable Patters
This section is great for scrapbooking at home or for people who don't like to use a die cut machine. These patters allow you to make different patterns by tracing, cutting out and piecing together paper. More likely than not, your designs will be original!

Orgazational and Photography Tips
Since this is something that we plan on doing on our blog I was very interested in this section. You should take a look at their ideas. It's always great to get a different perspective on things!

Class Options
This is the first time that I have saw an option to take classes online. I think it's a great idea. There are a few different ways that you can take the classes. Some are free and some require a fee (I did not rhyme that intentionally). It really depends on what your interested in. I definitely think you should check this out. It's all within the comfort of your own home!

Techniques
The website offers a whole section on different techniques. Whether you are a beginner scrapbooker or if you are experienced and want to know what the new thing is…This is the place for you.

The Linley's Big Announcement

Life is so amazing!

In my short 25 (almost 26) years of living, I have never been less than amazed at all of the blessings that seem to be put at my feet. One of the biggest blessings has been my husband, Jeremy.. It’s funny b/c we’ve been together for nearly a decade. Wow…that’s kind of scary to type out and actually read out loud! I have this warm-fuzzy memory of times together when we were first dating. He’d pick me up in his Geo Tracker with subs in the back and off we’d go. I’ll never forget the roof of that car actually flexing in the wind while we were driving down 370 one day…I literally thought the whole roof was going to cave in on us. We shared our first kiss in my parents’ front yard. Learned to drive cars together, graduated high school together, started college together. We’ve been there for first jobs, first life let downs and so many other things.

When he proposed to me, we were just barely in our 20’s. Some people thought we were crazy. Some people thought it was just what would always happen. Jeremy and Jessie would get married! I’ll never forget how intent he was at making the night perfect for me. What he didn’t realize was that the imperfections of it all are what made the night so special…and so classically Jer. I wouldn’t have it any other way. Something about a man crying in your lap because he was so afraid you’d be disappointed with the way the night went has to melt your heart a little bit! I knew my heart was safe in his hands and that he would take care of me no matter what. After the engagement we went about making plans for a future together. He and I always have seen eye to eye on one major thing. We knew our lives were meant to be together. Whatever that meant.

So we set about fulfilling some goals that we thought would be good for our future. We bought our first house, got our first big kid jobs, supported each other through school, and planned our wedding day! Oh our wedding was one crazy, amazing day. It was more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. He looked amazing in his tux. I felt like a princess. The weather couldn’t have been any better. We were surrounded by close friends and family all day long and after the ceremony we danced out tails off at our reception. I wouldn’t hesitate to do it all over again. Ha! I say that now...nearly 3 years later!

In the 3 years since then we’ve managed to make our humble little house into a beautiful home. We’ve taken some amazing vacations to places I’ll never forget. We hope to travel more and experience all the fabulous things God has in store for us. We’re proud of the life we’ve built and the adventures we’ve taken on!

And that is why I’m most excited about our newest adventure! On March 25th the newest little Linley should be making his OR her grand entrance into our lives! We’re so excited about it we could bust! We had our first appointment on September 2nd. I was nearly 11 weeks along and we heard the heartbeat! We’re still on the fence about finding out what we’re having. I don’t want to know and Jer does. We’re making plans for our nursery and all the big changes a baby means for us. And we could not be happier!! Keep an eye out for a monthly update on our blog. I plan to keep everyone posted on our progress!

Recipe Box Photos

As promised, here are some pics of the recipe box you'll be making in October!

We'd love to hear from you. So let us know what you think!

Kreativley Ours October Event

We are very excited to announce our next big event for Kreativley Ours! In October we will be introducing Crop and a Class Night!

What can you expect from Crop and a Class Night?

It’ll be a night just for you. Festivities will begin at 6pm. We will teach a class and then afterwards if you are interested, you can stay and crop till midnight! Classes usually run around 2 hours. This time you get the added bonus following the class to stay and enjoy four solid hours of scrapping! If you aren't interested in the class or if you just want to take the class, you can still join us at 6 and enjoy one or other!

This month our featured class will be a Recipe Box. A picture will be posted soon! It comes loaded with dividers that will be decorated as well. Because the cost of the craft is more expensive than a simple layout, the cost for the event will be $30. This covers your craft and all the supplies for the craft, the class itself, snack and crop time and space! The recipe box is a perfect Christmas Gift for anyone on your list. Or you can fill it with your favorite recipes and use it in your own kitchen!

Please mark October 24th on your calendar and save the date for the Kreativley Ours Crop and a Class Night!

We look forward to hearing from you!!

Our First Crop - Recap!!

It's OFFICIAL! We held our first Kreativley Ours crop this past Friday! Thank you to our lovely ladies who decided to join us! We had a great time and hope you did as well.

Everyone who came to the crop got free reign of all of our stamps, inks and other tools we own. There were yummy snacks and drinks, drawings for prizes and everyone got to make their very own make and take. This month it was centered around Halloween. Our attendees could make several treat bags out of a lunch sack (these could be filled with candy for your favorite little trick-or-treaters), or a Trick-or-Treat bag with handles to take home with them!

Check out our pictures to see what you missed!! If you are interested or have questions about anything you see please feel free to contact us!

We have our next Kreativley Ours event in the works for October! We hope everyone will join us!

Early Christmas Card Orders = DISCOUNTS

While it is only September, it's never too early to begin preparing yourself for the lovely yuletide season! Please keep us in mind as you think about your holiday cards and gift giving. We would love to help you out with one or both! If you are interested in cards, please send us an email or comment on the blog.
There are basically two options for Christmas Cards:

-Special Orders
If you have something special you want made for your holiday cards, remember to get these to us early! We have already received orders for cards, and we'll be posting pics of these as they are completed. Any order placed before October 1st will receive 10% off the original price. All special orders are due by October 31st.

-Inventory Orders
We have a hodge podge of Christmas cards in stock. Each card is a little different in design, but for the most part they are the same. These cards will be available in bundles. There are ten cards in a bundle. The bundles are $16.95 each. That's quite a deal! Imagine what you would pay at the retail stores for a single card! If you break it down, our cards are only $1.70 each. This is nearly a one dollar discount off of our regular price.

Supplies are limited and the bundles are first come first serve!

If you are interested in one of these let us know :)

Websites We Love: Sherwin Williams Color Visualizer

Jeremy and I have remodeled much of our home. We’ve redone our kitchen, the bath; even refinished hardwood flooring that was once covered by carpet. Steff often tells me that the term "Blood Sweat and Tears" applies perfectly in our situation! Anyone who knows us knows that we’ve also painted some rooms in our house 2 and 3 times. This is no joke! Part of this stems from loving the look of new paint. And part of it stems from trial and error. Oh yeah, we've messed up a few paint jobs! And we’ve certainly learned a few lessons along the way.

This brings me to one of the websites that I love! Ever wondered what a color palette will look like in your space?? Sherwin Williams has something called a Color Visualizer. It allows you to pick from a large variety of room styles. You can then browse the palettes of colors (we’re talking every color they make!) and drag and drop them into the room. It helps you see trim colors together and gives ideas for accent pieces you could use in the room.

I love this website and totally recommend you check it out before you paint! The best part? I don’t buy all my paint from Sherwin Williams. I simply find similar colors at Home Depot or Wal-Mart. Below you’ll find some links to some places I love to browse before tackling any project. There are great tips and tricks out there!

If you have a site you love, let us know! We’d love for you to share your favorite spaces on the web with us!

Happy Surfing!!

http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/paint_colors/visualizer/

http://www.behr.com/behrx/index.jsp

http://www.hgtv.com/

Our Crop is Coming Up Fast!!!

Just a reminder that our upcoming crop is rapidly approaching! Be sure to let us know if you plan to join us by posting to our blog or emailing us at kreativleyours@yahoo.com.

There will be snacks, a make and take and a chance to use our supplies.

Here's the info!

When: Friday, September 12
Where: Upper Alton Baptist Church
Time: 6pm to Midnight
What you should bring: Yourself and your in-work or to-be-created scrapbooking pages. We will provide our stamps, ink and other tools for your use while you crop!

We are very excited about our first crop! We hope to see you there!

September Newsletter

Kreativley Ours
September Newsletter
September 1, 2008


Welcome to the Second Edition of the Kreativley Ours Newsletter!

What Happened Last Month:
In this section, you’ll learn about what Kreativley Ours did in the previous month.
August was a busy month for us! We held our first class, ran our first sale, fulfilled our first orders and custom made house warming invitations! Check out our blog (kreativleyours.blogspot.com) for more information on these events and other things that happened in August.

What’s Happening This Month:
In this section, you’ll learn what our plans are for the upcoming month. Be sure to pay close attention so you can stay updated. You wouldn’t want to miss anything!
This month we have a lot of great things happening! We will be running more sales, hosting a crop (see crop/classes section for more information) and building our online store on Etsy.

Project of the Month:
In the Project of the Month section we will highlight a recent project that we have done. We also plan to change it up and offer you a Project of the Month challenge. Keep your eyes peeled as this section is always changing!
Earlier we mentioned that we are building an online store at Etsy. It isn’t quite ready, but we’re very excited about it. Etsy is a website where you can buy or sell handmade items. You should check it out www.etsy.com. Etsy will allow us to have our own shop. Here we will be able to offer our products for sale. Look for more information about our shop soon!

Crop/Class:
In this section, you'll find the latest and greatest on upcoming classes. Dates, times and locations will be posted! There will also be a brief description, cost for the class and what you'll need to bring!!
We are excited to announce that on Friday, September 12th we will be hosting our first crop night.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with a crop, it is a chance to get together with fellow scrapbookers and work on your crafts. Each crop will include snacks and drinks. You’re welcome to bring your own dinner. You will also receive instructions and the supplies for a make & take (something we show you how to assemble and you get to keep). We will be sharing some of our supplies and have lots of our work on display. There is plenty of room so be sure and bring your friends (You get a free gift if you bring someone new!).

Please see below for details:
When: Friday, September 12th
Time: 6:00 PM-12:00 AM
Where: Upper Alton Baptist Church Basement (Just past Robert Wadlow)
Make & Take: Halloween Treat Bags
Cost: $9

Please RSVP by commenting on the blog (www.kreativleyours.blogspot.com) or emailing us (kreativleyours@yahoo.com). We would like to have RSVP's by September 8th. Payment will also be due at this time.

Monthly Tip:
In this section of our newsletter...we'll be sharing tips we've learned while scrapbooking. But don't be surprised if something about getting more efficiency from your gas tank or how coupon shopping for groceries helps us save a few extra bucks...appears in this section once in awhile!
Don’t be afraid to try something new! This is a sure way to give your pages new and exciting elements!

Blog:
In this section we will share what we've been blogging about for the past few weeks. We are trying to post often. Keep checking back for fun tips and information to get you motivated! Here’s what we posted in August:
August Newsletter, SALE!!!, Class Reminder, Green Tip, Samples of Our Work, Last Chance to Sign up for Class, Class Wrap Up, Distressed Ink, Bundle Sale and A Picture is Worth a Million Words.

Sales/Specials:
Here you will find out about specials we are running! Check them out. You're sure to find some good deals here!
Christmas Card Orders-10% off if placed before October 1st!

Monthly Fun Fact/Quote:
A picture is poem without words.
-- Confucius

Going Green Tip:
Something that you will learn about us is that we are very interested in being Green. I’m sure that you have all heard of, “Going Green” and all of the hype about preserving our Earth. We encourage you to get involved. We need to preserve the place we live in for our future! Here you will find tips about, “Being Green” or “Going Green.” We look forward to sharing this with you!
We recently spotted Sara Snow on an episode of Jon & Kate Plus 8 (Yes, we are both avid fans of the crazy show about multiples!). On this particular episode, Sara helped the Gosselins create a recycling center, prepare a completely fresh and organic meal and she talked about great homemade cleaning products. It was an interesting and inspiring episode. Sara also has a show on Discovery Health. She provides great tips and ideas and sources about caring for our environment. Check out her website: http://www.sarasnow.com

Bundle Sale Ending

Hello Friends!

This is a friendly reminder that our first sale will be ending on August 31st.

See below for sale details:
Bundles of Cards
There are five cards in a bundle. The bundles are $8.95 each. If you break it down, our cards are only $1.79 each. This is nearly a one dollar discount off of our regular price.

The bundles include:
Happy Birthday
Sending You Warm Wishes
Thank You

Supplies are limited. Please contact us ASAP to purchase your bundle. The bundles are first come first serve. You can contact us by commenting on this post or emailing us at kreativleyours@yahoo.com.

Crop Night--Save the Date 9/12/08

We are excited to announce that on Friday, September 12th we will be hosting our first crop night.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with a crop, it is a chance to get together with fellow scrapbookers and work on your crafts. Each crop will include snacks and drinks. Your welcome to bring your own dinner. You will also receive instructions and the supplies for a make & take (something we show you how to assemble and you get to keep). We will be sharing some of our supplies and have lots of our work on display. There is plenty of room so be sure and bring your friends (You get a free gift if you bring someone new!).

Please see below for details:

When: Friday, September 12th
Time: 6:00 PM-12:00 AM
Where: Upper Alton Baptist Church Basement (Just past Robert Wadlow)
Make & Take: Halloween Treat Bags
Cost: $9

Please RSVP by commenting on the blog (www.kreativleyours.blogspot.com) or emailing us (kreativleyours@yahoo.com). We would like to have RSVP's by September 1st. Payment will be due before September 8th.

Distressed Inks (one of Jessie's faves!!)

I can’t remember when I first discovered these ink pads, but I do remember my first color. Weathered Wood. It quickly turned into an obsession for me. I now own nearly every color they make! There is something about this ink that I can’t get enough of. They are easy to hold, versatile and add that something that my pages were always missing.

You don’t have to be someone who uses stamps to purchase ink. When I began using these stamp pads it wasn’t for stamping anything. It was strictly for coloring the edges of my papers. They add depth and variety to your photo mats, your tags and any other creation you choose to add it to! There is a color to compliment nearly any color scheme or theme.

If you’ve never purchased one, I encourage you to try these first over any other product. I’ve tried other stamps pads before. These are by far my favorite. To learn more about the creator and the inks, see the links below.

http://www.rangerink.com/products/prod_dyeink_distresspads.htm

http://www.rangerink.com/products/artists/Tim_Holtz.htm

Well, it’s official…We have “taught” our first class. Here are a few pictures:







The day was a success and we all had a lot of fun too. We want to send a special thanks out to our class attendees-Julie, Alison and April. You girls were awesome! Not only did we create a cute summer layout, but we got to spend time together. And, what’s better than a little girl time?

Our main focus of this layout was teaching the following:

Create a cute page out of just paper
Maximize the use of your papers (Waste Less)
Creating your own embellishments
Journaling
Using Clear Stamps
Working with Distressed Inks

If you missed the class, but love the layout…We have good news for you. We have two layouts for sale $12.00 each. The layouts are already put together. All you will need to do is glue down your pictures.

Last Chance To Sign Up

Our first class is quickly approaching! The class will be approximately an hour and a half. You will leave with an adorable two page summer layout. It will be perfect for your 2008 summer photos. We will be providing nearly everything. It's going to be a lot of fun, and we want you to join us. The good news is that there is still room. But, time is running out. We need to hear from you ASAP so we can hold your spot. The cost for the class is $12.00. It will be held on Sunday, August 17th at 2:00. Jessie Linley will be hosting the class at her house. Please comment on this post or email us at kreativleyours@yahoo.com to RSVP. We look forward to hearing from you!

More Samples of our Work...

Check out some more samples of cards and other items we have available!!

Un Related to Scrapbooking

It may be hard for you to believe, but our lives don’t revolve around scrapbooking (completely). With that said, sometimes we’ll post something completely unrelated to scrapbooking. More than anything it’s a story that we want to share with you. The post might be something we have recently experienced, a fun weekend we had, a special person who we want to recognize, something exciting going on in our lives, tips on going green, you get the idea! So without further ado:

Here’s a Green Tip for you:
Instead of using plastic bottles for drinking water try using reusable water containers (Something like what you would take to the gym.). My husband and I tried this just a few months ago and we really like how it is working.

We took some of the water bottles that were around the house, filled them with water and stocked the fridge. We make sure that when we finish a bottle we wash and refill it. This way the fridge is always stocked. I find that I drink more water this way, and prefer having the containers to the plastic water bottle.

If this option won’t work for you I suggest buying Ice Mountain water. Here’s what they are doing to make a difference:

The new, 100% recyclable Ice Mountain Eco-Shape™ bottled spring water is not only less impactful on the environment, it’s purposely designed to be easy to carry and hold. And because it’s lighter, it requires less energy to make – resulting in a reduction of CO2 emissions. It is made with 30% less plastic than the average half-liter bottle, features a new label that's 30% smaller, is 100% recyclable and is flexible so it's easier to crush for recycling .

For more information please visit:
http://www.icemountainwater.com

Class Reminder!!

Our first class is coming up!!! We will be creating a 2-page summer layout that will be perfect for your summer pictures.

Cost for this class will be $12 per person. There are two dates currently open for attendance:

Sunday, August 17 at 2pm

Friday, August 22 at 6pm

One of the two dates will be chosen based on the majority's availability. Once you’ve registered you will receive confirmation and details! We have plenty of room for more so let us know you’re interested by commenting on our blog or emailing us at kreativleyours@yahoo.com. Sign ups are needed by August 11th.

We hope you like what you’ve saw so far! There’s more great stuff to come! We’re currently setting up plans for our next several months of classes and crops. Keep coming back to our blog and our myspace page for more information.

SALE!!!

Today is an exciting day for us! We are offering our first Kreativley Ours special. This is a great opportunity for you to make your first Kreativley Ours purchase!

Our first special will be: Bundles of Cards
There are five cards in a bundle. The bundles are $8.95 each. That’s quite a deal! Imagine what you would pay at the retail stores for a single card! If you break it down, our cards are only $1.79 each. This is nearly a one dollar discount off of our regular price.

The bundles include:
Happy Birthday
Sending You Warm Wishes
Thank You

Supplies are limited. Please contact us ASAP to purchase your bundle. The bundles are first come first serve. You can contact us by commenting on this post or emailing us at kreativleyours@yahoo.com.

August Newsletter

Welcome to the First Edition of the Kreativley Ours' Newsletter! Hopefully, you are staying nice and cool as Summer 2008 heats up! We hope you’re enjoying hearing from us and watching our business grow. The two of us are so excited to finally be getting all of this started. Thanks for coming along on the ride! We are looking forward to what the coming months have in store for us!

What Happened Last Month:
In this section, you’ll learn about what Kreativley Ours did in the previous month.
So what happened last month? Well, the two of us decided to take a huge step towards a long time dream of ours. We started by picking a name, creating our blog, trying to post as often as possible on the blog, emailing all of you, creating and updating the myspace page and working tirelessly towards making this dream a success! We also worked on an amazing project. Please see the project of the month to learn more about our project for the family of Daniel Dorsey.

What’s Happening This Month:
In this section, you’ll learn what our plans are for the upcoming month. Be sure to pay close attention so you can stay updated. You wouldn’t want to miss anything!
This month will be a big month for us! We are planning on holding our first class. We’re both very excited about this (see the Class section for more information). Remember our goal is to inspire you to preserve your memories. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or comments that you might have. We want to hear from YOU!

Project of the Month:
In the Project of the Month section we will highlight a recent project that we have done. We also plan to change it up and offer you a Project of the Month challenge. Keep your eyes peeled as this section is always changing!
We were extremely excited when we were approached with our first project. The St. Charles Post 312 Freshman American Legion baseball team lost teammate, Daniel Dorsey, on Monday, May 26th due to a tragic accident. He was 15 years old. Sunday, July 27th the team honored Daniel at their All Star game. The team decided they wanted to present Daniel's parents with a Shadow Box focusing on his time spent with the Legion. It is our hope that Daniel’s parents will find comfort and a peaceful reminder of their son with the shadow box. May you rest in peace, Daniel. To learn more about Daniel, the shadow box project or to see a picture of the project please visit our blog www.kreativleyours.blogspot.com.

Crop/Class:
In this section, you'll find the latest and greatest on upcoming classes. Dates, times and locations will be posted! There will also be a brief description, cost for the class and what you'll need to bring!!
We are so excited to kick off our first class! The two of us went back and forth trying to decide what would be a great class to teach first. We decided that we wanted to keep it simple since it will be a trial run. The class for August will be a two page summer layout. Typically, when we announce a class we plan to show you a picture of the final project. Since this is the first one we want to give you plenty of time to get it on your calendars. Therefore, we don’t yet have a picture. We have decided to offer two different days for the class. If there are enough participants for each day, we will teach both days. Otherwise we will teach on the day that is convenient for the majority. The first class we are offering will be on Sunday, August 17th at 2:00. The second class will be on Friday, August 22nd at 6:30. A location will be announced at a later date. The cost for the class will be $12. You will leave with an adorable 2 page layout. Please RSVP to us by emailing or commenting on our blog. We will need your payment by Saturday, August 16th. RSVP’s would be appreciated by August 11th.

Monthly Tip:
In this section of our newsletter...we'll be sharing tips we've learned while scrapbooking. But don't be surprised if something about getting more efficiency from your gas tank or how coupon shopping for groceries helps us save a few extra bucks...appears in this section once in awhile!
When matting your photos, tearing the edges of your paper (yes everyone, we said tear) will give your pages a little extra embellishment without purchasing a thing. You can also ink the edges of your paper with your stamp pad ink. It's even more effective when your matting is torn!

Blog:
In this section we will share what we've been blogging about for the past few weeks. We are trying to post often. Keep checking back for fun tips and information to get you motivated!
Our blog began in July and we've posted blogs on the following topics:
· Welcome!!!
· How It Works
· Why We Scrap
· Examples of Our Work
· Speaking the Language
· Jessie’s Favorite Scrapbook Tool
· Steff’s Favorite Scrapbook Tool
· In Memory of Daniel Dorsey
· Our First Class

Sales/Specials:
Here you will find out about specials we are running! Check them out. You're sure to find some good deals here!
While it is only August and we realize it is way to hot to think about the holidays, keep in mind that we would love to help you out with your Christmas Cards! If you are interested, please send us an email or comment on the blog.

There are basically two options for Christmas Cards:
-Special Orders
If you have something special you want made for your holiday cards, remember to get these to us early! Any order placed before October 1st will receive 10% off the original price. All special orders are due by October 31st.

-Inventory Orders
We have a hodge podge of Christmas cards in stock. Each card is a little different in design, but for the most part they are the same. These cards will be available in bundles. There are ten cards in a bundle. The bundles are $16.95 each. That’s quite a deal! Imagine what you would pay at the retail stores for a single card! If you break it down, our cards are only $1.70 each. This is nearly a one dollar discount off of our regular price. Supplies are limited and the bundles are first come first serve.

Monthly Fun Fact/Quote:
Author: John Updike
"Any activity becomes creative when the doer cares about doing it right or doing it better"

Going Green Tip:
Something that you will learn about us is that we are very interested in being Green. I’m sure that you have all heard of, “Going Green” and all of the hype about preserving our Earth. We encourage you to get involved. We need to preserve the place we live in for our future! Here you will find tips about, “Being Green” or “Going Green.” We look forward to sharing this with you!
Save those scraps from left over pages. You never know when you might need a tag or a quick matte for a photo. If you have a lot of paper that becomes unusable, save it in a separate tote or bag and turn it into to your area paper-recycling bins. They are large yellow and green bins that can be found outside your local schools, churches and businesses. We know a few if you need help locating one just shoot us an email! Remember whatever we can return back to be used again is one less item we pitch in the landfill!

Our First Class

We are so excited to kick off our first class! The two of us went back and forth trying to decide what would be a great class to teach first. We decided that we wanted to keep it simple since it will be a trial run.

The class for August will be a two page summer layout. Typically, when we announce a class we plan to show you a picture of the final project. Since this is the first one we want to give you plenty of time to get it on your calendars. Therefore, we don't yet have a picture. We have decided to offer two different days for the class. If there are enough participants for each day, we will teach both days. Otherwise we will teach on the day that is convenient for the majority.

The first class we are offering will be on Sunday, August 17th at 2:00.
The second class will be on Friday, August 22nd at 6:30.

A location will be announced at a later date. The cost for the class will be $12. You will leave with an adorable 2 page layout. We will need your payment by Saturday, August 16th.

Please RSVP to us by emailing or commenting on our blog. RSVP's are appreciated by August 11th.

In Memory of Daniel Dorsey

It's been an exciting first couple weeks in business as Kreativley Ours. We've been working to build our inventory and are very excited to get things running. We were extremely excited when we were approached with our first project. The project gave us an opportunity to create something we never expected. And we were both humbled and honored, as we got the chance to honor a young boy whose life was tragically cut short.

The St. Charles Post 312 Freshman American Legion baseball team lost teammate, Daniel Dorsey, on Monday, May 26th due to a tragic accident. He was 15 years old. Sunday, July 27th the team will be honoring Daniel at their All Star game. The team decided they wanted to present Daniel's parents with a Shadow Box focusing on his time spent with the Legion.

To ready about Daniel's life please see the link below:
http://obit.baue.com/obitdisplay.html?id=546515&clientid=baue&listing=Found

Neither one of us knew Daniel (Dan as many called him) but after hearing his story we were heartbroken. It is our hope that Daniel’s parents will find comfort and a peaceful reminder of their son with the shadow box. May you rest in peace, Daniel.

Steff's Favorite Tool

Jessie had a great idea when she suggested that we should each blog about our favorite scrapbooking tool. That’s easy, or so I thought. After I read Jessie’s favorite tool I realized that we would have similar post. And, how interesting would our blog be then? I do have to totally agree with her, though, I always use my trimmer. There isn’t a page in my book or a card I have created that my trimmer wasn’t used. It’s super handy and probably one of the first things a beginning scrapbooker should have!

Since Jessie stole my post idea (ha ha! Or actually just got to it first.) I had to dig deep to figure out what my favorite tool is. This was a little harder than I thought it would be. You might wonder how it is hard to figure out your favorite tool since there are so many to choose from. However, I am from the school of “cheap scrapbooking”. I try not to get caught up in purchasing all of the new tools. I prefer to spend my money page by page. It’s just my preference.

With all that said, my favorite tool is the die cut machine. One of the best things about the die cut machine is that it’s FREE (or at least at my scrapbook store it is) to use! There are also several different varieties of machines that you can purchase. I would say it’s a worthy investment if you incorporate a lot of die cuts into your work.

You might be wondering what exactly a die cut machine is. Well, it’s basically a machine that cuts out shapes and designs. There are several different shape/design options. My local scrapbook store has each option posted on the wall. All I have to do is pick which design I like, find the coordinating stencil, strategically place my paper over the stencil, run through the press, apply pressure and…WAH LAH. A die cut is born!

Another great thing about the die cut machine is that since I don’t own one, I don’t always incorporate die cuts onto my pages. When I do, it always adds a new element to the layout.

I’ll be honest and say that it took me awhile to muster up the courage to actually use the machine. They aren’t always the easiest things to work with. If you’re planning on using the machine make sure that you follow the following rules:

-Don’t be intimidated.
-Be patient.
-Don’t rush.
-Take an extra sheet of paper…You might need it!
-Watch your fingers!!!

Jess's Favorite Scrapbook Tool

When thinking about my favorite tool, I had to do some reflecting on what I use when I scrapbook. And it really comes down to what you would view as a tool. Since I think tools would be classified as something you use to cut or punch or texture your papers and pages, I came to the realization that I don't use a ton of tools. This made figuring out my favorite very easy!

I have a Fiskar's Trimmer. It is the one tool my scrapbook pages would not come together without. It is loaded with dimensions for accurate sizing. It has replaceable blades and an arm that holds my papers in place while I cut. It works great for cropping photos, cardstock and just about anything I decide needs cut.

I cannot think of a page in my last two or three books where I haven't picked up this tool and used it! I once forgot this tool at a crop night. Luckily my best friend (a.k.a. Steff!) saved my butt and we were able to share. But it's a vital tool for me.

Below you can find a link to more info on them. There are several different styles and options. If you're looking to make a purchase, email us or ask someone at your scrapbook store about what would work best for you!

Here is a link to a variety of Fiskar Paper Trimmers.

http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/c_trimmers.aspx

And here is the link to the one I own.

http://www.fiskarscrafts.com/tools/t_12-euro-personal-paper-trimmer.aspx

Enjoy :)

Speaking the Launguage

Key Terms

The two of us want to make sure that our blog is friendly to both scrapbookers, and people who aren't completley familiar with scrapbooking. With that said, we thought it would be important to go ahead and give you some of the scrapbooking terms that may be used on our blog:

Scrapbooking:
A hobby in which a person preserves pictures as memorabilia. Pages are typically completed and stored in scrapbooks. However, there are sereral different forms of scrapbooking.

Acid free:
Any material that has a pH of 7.0 to 8.5. Scrapbook albums and materials to create scrapbooks should be acid free.

Cropping:
Cutting or trimming a photo to better focus, change the focus, or create a more suitable fit onto a page.

Matting:
Framing a picture using complimenting papers and colors.

Page Protector:
Plastic sleeve that protects a page in a scrapbook album. These are typically top loading. Depending on the album, these can be added or removed to/from albums.

Brad:
Fastener with prongs. The top features a decorative top (typically colored and round or square). The prongs are inserted through the surface and open butterfly-style.

Die Cut:
Letter or shape cut from a machine.

Ribbons & Fibers:
Ribbons & fibers make great embelishments. They are typically sold in scrapbook or craft stores and are ribbons and strands of string that together make an awesome component of a scrapbook page.

Punch:
A tool used to punch out decorative shapes. These shapes can be punched out of pictures, scrapbook paper or cardstock.

Journaling:
Journaling, while sometimes tideous, is one of the major components of scrapbooking. It is important to leave a section on a scrapbook page for journaling. This allows you a chance to document a funny story from the day or write a note about a moment that you don't want to forget. If your not big about story telling it is important to at least document the date of the event. It will come in handy later. And, the stories are fun to read.

Adhesives:
A product used to attach photographs and other components onto a scrapbook page. There are several different types of adhesives. It is important to use an adhesive that works well for you. Not all adhesives work for everyone and there are different adhesivesneeded for different jobs. Here are a few of the adhesive choices, Glue Stick, Liquid Glue, Mounting Squares, Glue Dots, Photo Corners, Spray Adhesives, Silicone Dimensional Adhesive, Foam Adhesive (3 D), Double Sided Tape.

Crop:
A crop is an event where scrapbookers meet to work on their scrapbooks, share tools and techniques. These typically take place at scrapbook stores. However, individual scrapbookers also often organize their own crop nights.

Examples of Our Work

For more examples, please see our myspace page www.myspace.com/kreativleyours

Why We Scrap

We scrap for the therapy. The walks down memory lane and the quiet reflection it allows us. It helps us keep our mind on something simple and for a few short hours we’re not thinking about bills or the house or even what I have to do tomorrow. It’s simple honest creativity and time just for us.

We scrap for the memories. While we may have only lived a quarter century, in that time we've both see some great things, been to interesting places and have had a thousand memorable moments. Because of this we scrap. We want to remember these things. Each individual little thing. We want our kids to remember these things. We want people to be able to see that we loved our life and find our souls on the pages of our books.

We scrap for the time spent with friends. Honestly this has been what has kept us going back to scrap. We rarely scrap alone. Where you find one of us scrapping you’ll nearly always find the other scrapping. Many long, wonderful conversations have been held amid scraps of paper, adhesive and piles of photos. We have the privilege of scrapping with two friends Julie and Alison. When the four of us crop together…we’re a force to be reckoned with. We’re blessed for these friends and blessed for the memories we’ve made simply being with them and scrapping.

How It Works

**Update**
The below prices are estimates. What we are more interested in right now it's getting out there and doing work for you. Our prices are not completley firm. Were willing to work with you. Send us a comment or email letting us know what your interested in and we will shoot you a competive price. Our thought process with this is that we don't want to run any business off. Since we're building this business...We're willing to work with you. Please contact us!

So your interested in ordering from us and want to know how it works?

Well, here's the deal:

What We Currently Offer:
Box of Cards (Mix & Match or All the Same)
Available indvidually for $2.75 each or in quantities of 10 ($19.95), 20 ($33.95), 25 ($37.95)
Thank you
Happy Birthday
Just Because
Get Well/Encouragement
Christmas/Winter Holiday
**Please Note: Christmas/Winter Holiday Card orders will be needed by October 31st. If you miss this deadline, please email us.**
**Please allow two weeks for production.**

Announcements
Depending on materials and the level of detail, prices may vary.
Shower (Bridal/Baby)
Bachelorette Party
Graduation
Birth
New Home
**Please allow two weeks for production.**

Scrapbooks
Depending on materials, level of detail and the book you choose, prices vary.
Small Flipbook
--Ten Pictures
Small Scrapbook
--Twenty Five Pictures
**Please allow three weeks for production.**

Gift Tags (Mix and Match or All the Same
Available in 5 ($3.95), 10 ($7.50), 15 ($10.95), 20 Count ($15.00)
See photos for available patterns, or talk to us about customizing your own set
**Please allow one week for production.**

Prices do not include shipping.

Welcome!!!

Welcome to the blog for Kreativley Ours.

What is Kreativley Ours you ask? Right now it’s a blog, an email address and a dream. Kreativley Ours is the dream of Jessie Linley & Steff Cincoski.

Jessie & Steff met in 2003 while at college. It didn't take long for the two to become inseparable. Through their parade of friendship the two realized that they shared a love for scrapbooking. After countless hours spent in scrapbook stores, working on Christmas cards, making shower invites and much more the two have finally decided to turn one of their passions into a dream. Why not take a gamble on doing what you love?

Our goal for Kreativley Ours is to have a full functioning scrapbook business. We plan to start out with this blog, offering our services to others who don't have the knack for scrapbooking, writing a book, and selling hand made items.

Please check the blog often. We will be posting examples of our work and giving you all the details for purchasing. There will also be blog post about getting started, and keeping up with the latest and greatest trends. We hope to review items, and keep you posted on all of our opinions about new things. Also, check back for a link to our myspace page. Currently, it is under construction. Once it is ready to go you can find the link here. Once you visit you will be able to check out or portfolio and much more!

For those who love the idea of scrapbooking, but don't have the time to make it a hobby...We are the place for you. After a quick consultation (in person or through email) we will determine exactly what you want and get to work. Prices will vary depending on you individual wants and needs. Feel free to contact us through commenting on the blog or emailing kreativleyours@yahoo.com

If you see something on the blog or our myspace page that you would like to purchase send us an email and we will get things set up for you.

Thanks for stopping by! Please come back ;)