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Thursday, 29 May 2008

Chill Out - It's Your Day


Today's challenge on Cute Card Thursday is to use pattern paper, which fits in nicely with my card for today. The stamp is one of those cheap wooden ones by studio G that are thrown into bins in crafting shops all over the world - well, certainly in the US and UK. Some of my favourite stamps of all time have come out of those bins, so I am always searching through to make sure I didn't miss one.


Today is quite a sad day for me. I started cardmaking 3 1/2 years ago, and three years ago I stumbled across a local scrapbook store called the Paper Playhouse. They hold an open studio every Thursday, and I overcame my initial 'new girl' shyness and started going every week. It has become a part of my life here in the US, and I have made some terrific friends there, who have helped me develop my crafting skills. It has been quite a joke that friends would suggest thursday for a dinner date, then say hastily 'oh no, that's your playhouse day'. I would be there until 10pm each thursday! Well, today is the last time I will be going up there, the store is closing it's doors for good. So here is my honor rollcall to salute all my good friends, who I hope will remain so, even though we don't have paper 'playschool' to go to. Sherry and all the staff, Marsha, Peggy, Angie, you are the sweetest people and I wish you well with everything you do next. Phyllis who has taught me so much, especially that black makes for a stunning card, Bev, Loretta, Cheryl, all the regulars, I have learnt from all of you, love you and promise to keep in touch. So thanks to all of you for the fun, friendship and good times. Dunkin Donuts profits will nosedive now!

Don't forget, all comments made this week will go into the draw for the Autumn Leaves stamps.

57 comments:

  1. How sad that your little haven of crafting heaven is closing down and that you will miss all your crafting friends.

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  2. How sad, it seems that the big craft stores are putting the small fun places out of business and that is where all the fun is and friendhsips are made,hope you and your crafting buddies are able to get together at each other's homes in the future.

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  3. Oops forget to mention that I love your card, that was me last week, laying in the sun in Central Florida

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  4. Hi,
    Love your card for the Cute Card challenge.
    A lot of the crafting shops in my area have closed and its so sad!!!
    They are more than just a place to buy craft supplies.
    Chris
    www.announceitwithstyle.blogspot.com

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  5. beautiful card Enfys, love the papers you used and what a gorgeous little stamp! Thank you for joining in the CCT challenge!

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  6. Wish I'd seen that stamp when I was in UK, just the sort of thing I need at the moment! Love what you've done with it.

    Karen (in France) x
    http://karenscreation.blogspot.com

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  7. Fabulous card, that is a great stamp, I've not seen that one over here. I'm soory to hear your craft store has shut down, I hope you'll be able to find somewhere else to go.
    Thanks for joining in the CCT challenge.
    Andrea (Andrea's World)

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  8. Wow - your card is fantastic in design - wonderful

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  9. Love this card - that stamp is fab!

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  10. Fab card - great pink backing paper!
    Sorry to hear that your little crafting haven is closing - its a shame craft shops don't seem to last.

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  11. Great card hun :o)

    Oh so sad about the store closure though, I can really see how that would tug at my heart having to say goodbye to something that had been a large part of my life for over three years.

    (((hugs)))

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  12. Ah man, hate to see your paper playdates end; hope you all stay in contact! It sounds like the time together was an incredible blessing.

    ~Michele
    Whimsical Expressions

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  13. Aww DANG it Enfys...that seems to be happening all over the place...LSS closing every turn you make...it's so very sad!! BTW, I love this little pink card....it's adorable and what a cute stamp too!!

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  14. Hi,
    I found you through Kath (who left a comment on my blog) & had to tell you I know exactly how sad you feel; we've lost 3 craft stores here in the Phoenix area in the last 3 months. It's heartbreaking, but I hope your friendships endure & you all can still share your creativity somehow!

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  15. Love your card Enfys! It's so cute. I love looking through those dollar bins too.

    It's very sad that your LSS is closing and that your night of fun is going away. Sadly enough, we've got one of my favorite local stores closing at the end of this summer as well. I'm afraid Flossie is correct about the big guys putting the small wonderful shops out of business. And the worst part is, is that I don't shop at the big places. I always go to my local shops first. *sigh* Hope you and your friends are able to stay in touch! HUGS!

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  16. Oh that's sad Enfys. I think there are sooo many lovely people in our card world and it is always nice to get togetehr. It sounds like you had fun. Maybe you can still stay in touch and meet every month somewhere else. You could start up your own craft club lol xxx

    There have been 2 craft shops near here that have closed in the last 6 months - rather worrying. One was always quiet but the other was, on the face of it quite succesful and always busy. So it was a bit of a shock when a few people turned up one morning to find a 'goodbye folks' type notice on their door - no warning. They also left owing money to quite a few customers (me included)who had paid for gift vouchers, classes up front etc. It left a nasty taste. The same person has now set up another business selling stamps and is seen regularly at shows without a care in the world!!

    We are now down to one shop and it is wonderful - I dont know what we would do if that went. We have Hobbycraft but it doesn't have the same nice atmosphere as a small shop.

    I hope you get something sorted chicken and love the card btw xxxxx

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  17. beautiful card brilliant theme.
    Sorry to hear of the closure of your littel haven..hope you all stay in touch.
    Hugs Rach.xx

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  18. That is a shame, she must arrange something with all your buddies perhaps a scarp in a different house every week. Great Card
    Jacqui

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  19. Wonderful card Enfy's !! i feel sad for you i know how you feel all the lss have closed around me and now i travel 45 minutes to go to a wonderful store but i can't always make it to go regular especially in the winter, the roads here are terrible. I hope you and your friends can find an alternative crafting time together and still continue on with your fun and friendship !!

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  20. how sad. A LSS near me just closed down as well. This is my 1st comment on your blog and i really enjoy your work! I even learned how to do the explosion box from your instructions! I already have both stamp sets, so please don't include me. just wanted to say thanks for a wonderful blog!

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  21. How sad - it seems like a growing trend that LSS are going out of business. You've made lots of friends and I'm sure ya'll will get together somehow.

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  22. Sad to hear that your playhouse is closing down - I hope you keep on creating your wonderful crafts.

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  23. So sad about the store closing.Brought tears to my eyes.It seems to be so hard to find friends that have similiar crafting interests and now for all that to be changing.I'm sorry and I feel your sadness.
    I love your blog and all of your creations. You are sovery talented.
    Thanks for sharing with us all you do.We are blessed to know you through the cricut MB and through your blog.
    Big Hugs,Roxanne

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  24. This is a sad day indeed! I know that it is tough out there - I am a local scrapbook store owner (online web and studio classes) in Canada and we are all feeling it over here as well. The big box stores are a threat, but they can't touch the service that the LSS can provide. No-one at Michaels/Joannes/Walmart knows anything about this industry it's mostly kids in there who ignore you unless you poke them! All I can say is SUPPORT YOUR LSS! And get all your friends and loved ones into scrapping! It's not about how much stuff we buy or that we have the latest gadget or brad, it's all about preserving the memories! Happy Scrapping All!
    Sandra www.craftydesigns.ca :-)

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  25. great idea-i booked a cruise for Feb.and i can make cards and send them home from the different ports.
    thanks for all the great ideas and for sharing them.your site makes my day a little brighter when i see what you post,
    tahnks again,
    skeeter

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  26. Sorry to hear about your lss. It seems like everytime I find a good one it closes down.

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  27. The card is fab! I discovered a little tiny fancy alphabet by StudioG last week - 99p too!!

    Hope you find another 'home'

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  28. Love the cute card. I was sad when my lss closed too it is no fun!

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  29. Wow....Love your stuff! I'm a "new" blogger and would love to link to your page! I'm in for your Blog Candy give away for sure! :) Check out my blog when you have a chance!!
    http://treasuredcrafts.blogspot.com/

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  30. Enfys I've just read this at have to agree with you...it heartbreaking. There are far to many 'small' shops that close due to competition from the bigger stores.
    There was a fantastic little book shop in my home town that was a favourite haunt of mine for over twenty years and it sadly shut its doors last year.
    Love this stamp and have to agree that my favourite stamps are always to ones that no one else wants!!

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  31. Enfys I've just read this at have to agree with you...it heartbreaking. There are far to many 'small' shops that close due to competition from the bigger stores.
    There was a fantastic little book shop in my home town that was a favourite haunt of mine for over twenty years and it sadly shut its doors last year.
    Love this stamp and have to agree that my favourite stamps are always to ones that no one else wants!!

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  32. I am sorry that your regular meeting group won't be together any more but what would be worse is if you have never had the chance to make these friends. I hope all of your friendships will continue and the memories you have will continue to be shared. Great card also.

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  33. Gorgeous card, beautiful colours and laout. So sorry to hear your local craft shop is closing down. A story so common nowadays unfortunately.

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  34. Sorry to hear about your local scrapbooking store closing. I wish I had a store nearby.
    Take care,
    Christy

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  35. Boah, what a beautiful and cute card! Love it! ;-)

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  36. fabulous card Enfys as always!!... very sad about the craft store, one of my local craft stores recently shut down too! it is sad as it is a place that you make new like minded friends.
    Justine

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  37. Very sad about your "playhouse" closing!! Wish I had a place like that to go to.....

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  38. fabulous card, I love it.
    Oh how sad :( your little crafting haven is closing. Let hope you stay in touch with the lovely friends you've made.
    have a great weekend :-)x

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  39. Enfys - love this card. I too have this stamp. Please don't enter me in the drawing (I have one of the sets already.) Know you're heading to the UK soon - hope you're able to keep in touch with your friends.
    Kris

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  40. just love your cards.
    Carol New zealand

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  41. What a lovely card! Great papers and layout!

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  42. I understand you pain, my friend had a scrapbook store which I helped invest time, ideas, thoughts, motivation....and then she closed the store a year later and gave up. I felt like part of me was missing. But now I signed to sell with CTMH and I am able to teach and keep a part of what I was missing going. We meet once a month and I teach techniques, give out hand outs and other organizing information. I love it. I was hard and time was the only medicine.

    Lifting you up,
    Tracy from AR

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  43. Lovely card... you sure can get some great stamps sometimes from those bins :)

    That is sad about your playhouse closing! :(

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  44. Fab card, love it! I've given you an award and tagged you, please check out my blog for details. Jillix

    p.s. am itching to use my giraffe stamp but just haven't found the time yet....thanks for everything you did!!!!

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  45. cute summer card! Love the sewing!

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  46. Great card and papers you've used. Sorry to hear about your craft shop closing down.
    xx :0)

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  47. Lovely summer card! Great stamp, I also love searching through the bargain bins ( makes you feel less guilty what we spend)lol!
    Sorry your local craft shop is closing but at least you have made some fab friends who you will be able to keep in touch with x

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  48. Having moved a few times, I understand the challenge of making a new group of friends that shared interests.

    Perhaps one of you can become a Stampin Up or CLose to My Heart demonstrator so the group can gather and order quality products.

    I hope you keep meeting and don't get out of the routine.

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  49. I'm so sorry to hear that - it's always sad to see a good store like that close, but especially when it was a gathering place for friends.

    Cute card!

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  50. LOVED the card and the stamp.!!!
    So very cute.!!!!

    renonda elrod

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  51. Love this card..wish that could be me sat on that chair!!!mmmm nice.......
    Sorry your craft store has closed down ......you always got your blog friends and crafty sites Enfys:)xxx

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  52. This is terrible news in the life of a scrapper... :o( I hope you keep in touch with all the wonderful people you've met! And now to the card...I love that little stamp of yours!

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  53. Oh my gosh, it is so sad that your little piece of crafting heaven is closing, but i am sure that you made some life long friends and that is really what counts.... I love your summery card..... it really is stunning..... Thank you so much for giving us all the chance to win your scrummy candy... Crafty Hugs Tina x

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  54. Such a cute card! I love the pink! But I'm a pink freak!

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  55. This card is really cute! I just bought this stamp at my local craft store out of the "dollar" bin also. It's amazing what you can find if you're patient to dig through those bins. Take Care ~ Melisa

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I love reading your comments, thank you for taking the time
Enfys x