Marye Anne's Scrapbits

Again I wasn't too sure how to title this but I really wanted to share what happened while we were away last week.
My family(DH and the 3 kids) and I drove to Nova Scotia to take my mom's ashes to where she grew up. As some of you know my mom suffered a terrible stroke and was ill for some time. It was very hard on all the family and I still have alot of difficulty dealing with her loss.
Anyway, our road trip was something out of National Lampoons for sure. I did write alot in a journal while we were in the van as I think someday it could make a great movie. I told my DH that Will Farrow would have to play him.
But what I wanted to share were the events of my mom's memorial. My mom's younger brother and wife planned the day as I just didn't know how to do it. They live out in the country on Cape Breton Island, on the Mira River and it is where my mom spent her summers in her younger days and she often went back in the summer to visit family(as did I for many years).
Now my mom's favorite colour is Lime Green, so my uncle bought a Lime Green Lawn chair and set it up on a hill over looking the river on his property near a little garden. My mom's cousin's planted a tree, there. The day started out nice and DH and I ran around doing errands while the kids help set up. Over 60 people were expected(abit much for me). And 20 minutes before we were to start the sky's opened up and it hailed and rained and thundered and there was lightening. So needless to say we could not go out side. It was a good thing that their place is large. So we began inside. My aunt said a few words and we sang a couple of songs and then we let go 45 coloured ballons(red, yellow, white and green) and everyone visited and we ate. After awhile people left as the rain wasn't letting up. After many people had left and there was only a few very close relatives, the rain suddenly stopped and the sun peeked out. We decided to spread my mom's ashes then. There were about 20 of us.
We went up on the little hill overlooking the water and the most incredible thing had happened(now I am not very good at telling things well) But when we looked out at the water there were 6 Lime Green Balloons floating in the water. No other colours, it was as if they were waiting. I do have pictures at home to show them. Again my aunt said a few words and my uncle spread my mom's ashes and everyone sang a song my mom loved. And when we finished the balloons floated away. It was the most unbelievable thing ever.

Ok who loves gagdets? I am hooked on kitchen appliances. I have a Waffle Maker but don't like it. Have gone through a couple of bread makers, have a sandwich maker(the whole family loves it), and I have an ice cream maker but I am too impatient to freeze and wait(would love one that makes soft ice cream quickly). I just bought a Pancake Puff Pan, which you can see on tv, and I really like it. I have always dreamed of a chocolate tempering machine but now I really want a waffle cone maker. You can make your own ice cream cones with it for about $60. I will be getting one soon.
Why the gadget talk? Are you going as crazy as I am waiting to see the new QK releases? I will be placing my order as soon as I see them tomorrow. Fingers crossed for a great release.
Let me know if you are interested in any of the items released as I am sure they will be one quickly.
Marye Anne

I was going to title this "My Dirty Fingernails" but I didn't want to turn people off, especially since most of my blog posts have been not the happiest over the past year and a half. It has been a hard time for me with my mother's illness and death and the fatigue of raising teens and preteens and running a store. And I have been ill myself for awhile with bad arthritis but I am working on moving the blog back to scrapbooking and our store.
So when I talk about my Dirty Fingernails. I am looking for forgiveness as my hands are stained today. So of it has to do with the Sweet Cherries that the kids and I picked and then turned into jam. I think Sweet Cherries are my most favorite fruit besides strawberry daiquiries(I guess that's not a real fruit).
Anyway, back to my hands. I was painting some of the Maya Road Chipboard key chains today-love the Dog ones, and yes I am actually working on a layout when I spied the Alcohol Inks on the demo table. They are the coolest. So I started dabbing and now my hands are stained. I have partially covered a tin container with the inks and I can see me doing more. I was thinking about inking my Revolution plate-the 4 in one because I use the 12 in most of the time now.
So if you come in the store and see me with dirty hands and nails-know that it won't come off on your paper or purchases as it is alcohol based and likes to stay where it is put. And if you have never used the Ranger Alcohol Inks ask for a demo just be prepared to get dirty.
Marye Anne

Thanks for the mess you left in the back of the store.
For those of you who are wondering what I am talking about. I had a few ladies in the store at one time and one left while the others were checking out. When the last ladies left another customer walked in, she wasn't in the store a second and told me about a mess of spilled beads. It wasn't, someone had opened up a Quickutz Snowy Day Font, took it and dumped the white packaging on the floor. And of course left the paper and stickers that they had in their hands near it but not where they belong.
And I know that it was not there this am as I turned on lights right there and do a walk around the store constantly. So I do know who took it.
And I hope you enjoy the Sunshine font that you took also. I found the box. I hope when you show your family the great scrapbooks that you make that you tell them about all the supplies that you stole to make. I am sure there are other items you took from us and from other stores. Marye Anne

Wow I can't believe how cold and rainy it has been. Nice for Scrapbooking and great for all the weeds growing in my garden though.
We had a few new items arrive in our store recently. Some new Karen Foster papers and stickers, Alcohol Inks and accessories by Ranger(love these), the Enveloper is back instock and we have a few of the new Glue Dots Dot 'N Go dispensers in.
We are expecting a shipment of Technique Tuesday stamps on June 26th-new releases yeah.
As for our Quickutz June release the story is not so great. The order has been processed but is still sitting in limbo-we ordered these weeks ago. And our Club Dies are on backorder. This is way beyond our control, we are taking pre-orders for the June releases and will be offering the Club Dies to those who order the June releases through us-contact us to find out how you can get your for free.
We have some great Quickutz deals in the store-stop by to check them out.
There is still some space left in our July12 Technique Tuesday class.
More fun stuff will be coming out in our next newsletter very soon. Want to be on our new email newsletter list. Drop us a note and we will sign you up. canadianscrapper@bellnet.ca
Happy Scrapping.
Marye Anne

Well I am finally getting back into the grove and I have alot of things going on at store.
Firstly, our Garage Sale starts next week-June 5-7, don't miss it.
Next Steph's classes are filling up. There are only 2 spots left for the Quickutz Card Class on June 14 and only a few spaces left for the Technique Tuesday class on July 12. Sign up now.
Lisa is still running Wednesday night crops, sign up now.
We have a great Quickutz Promotion for their tools, never before seen prices on the Squeeze. We have only a couple left at this great price. And the Revolution is on sale for a limited time. Our first Quickutz VIP night is coming up soon-get on the list now.
Remember that the Quickutz Dies can be used in both the Cuttlebug and the Big Shot.
And even though we love the great service and products that Quickutz provides we have had some people looking for Cuttlebug Dies-we are now going to ordering them in for anyone who wants them so come see us for more details.
And another program that we are trying out is Rental of Cricut Cartridges. We have a few cartridges available today for rental for a week at a time. If it is popular we will expand this program quickly. We can also order in Cricut Cartridges for you.
We are always open to suggestions and would love to hear any suggestions that you have.
We received a shipment of Fancy Pants Papers in last week and they are flying out the door. Thanks for the suggestion Tanya.
We have some more unique things coming to our store so keep your eyes on our website and pop in to see them in person.
Marye Anne

I am sorry to anyone who went to the store late Friday but I had to close early, I needed to be with my mother. As some of you know my mother had a stroke 17 months ago and it has been a long and difficult struggle for her and for us. On Friday night she passed away. It has been the most difficult time of my life and at least I now know that she is at peace. The next bit will still be hard as our family works at healing.
I know that this is a part of life, just not a part any of us want to experience.
I have been lax at getting some things accomplished at the store and it will take some time for me to get back on track but I am doing what I can.
I hope to see many of you at our National Scrapbook Day event. My mother often helped me with the preparations for this day for many years and I am sure in some way she will be with us.
Marye Anne