Thank you to everyone to gave us some feedback in the "Ask your customers what they want. Do that." survey. I also truly appreciate all your words of kindness. It makes me feel so good to know that my company has helped you preserve your memories in a way that is meaningful to you!
And since the second part of the survey was "Do that", I want you to know that we have already been working on some of your suggestions. Keep an eye out next Wednesday for some of the things you asked for.
I do want to take a moment and explain that while we will always try to create the items you ask for, sometimes we are unable to because of trademark and licensing issues. There were several requests for "Hot Wheels" items. We cannot make those, unless I would like to have a not-so-nice conversation with the attorneys from Mattel. We’ll always do the best we can, but we will always be respectful of other companies trademarks.
So, please keep your ideas and suggestions coming! We really enjoy making items for you that we know help you make your scrapbooks uniquely yours. Please post them below.
Hope you got a chance to check out the debut of our very first SYT themed paper collection (baseball). We’re going to be bringing you lots more in the future, so stay tuned!
Besides our own collection, we also have several others for you this week. We have "Green at Heart" by Basic Grey, “Easter”, "Prom" and “Graduation” by Reminisce, "Modern Market" by Cookbookin’, “Abode” and “Heatwave” by American Crafts, "Rev ‘Em Up" and “Smile” by Carolee’s Creations, and “Ballet” and “Basketball” by Karen Foster.
The SYT designers worked hard on this week on: Beach, Cruise, Easter, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, Fishing, Hunting, Cooking, Theme Park, Florida, Alaska and California and Alice in Wonderland. We also have a custom general travel die cut and our very own custom baseball paper to match our SYT baseball collection!
Don’t forget to check out projects for this week’s collections down the right-hand side of the website. You can see all our projects on our Shop by Layout section. Click here to see: http://www.scrapyourtrip.com/shopbylayout.html
Today is the last day to get a free $10 or $20 electronic gift card with purchase. Just add the Gift Certificate to your order ($10 Gift Certificate or $20 Gift Certificate) and enter the coupon code and the Gift Certificate will be yours free! (Cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer expires at 11:59 Eastern Time, Friday, March 19, 2010).
And remember, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, we can always make a custom title or paper just for you! Click here to see all our custom options: www.scrapyourtrip.com/custom.html
Happy St. Patrick’s Day! The kids have been gearing up for this day at school for weeks! Logan has been sharing with me all the adventures of his class leprechauns, Sean (the good one) and Shaymin (the bad one). He gets so expressive when he is sharing the stories! I think he is copying the way his teacher tells the story, because he’s never told stories in quite this same way before.
I have some really exciting news to share with you! I am proud to announce…drum roll please…the debut of the very first themed Scrap Your Trip paper collection!
This is the latest in the evolution of Scrap Your Trip products. We started creating our own die cuts back in 2006 – now we create more die cuts than any other scrapbooking company. We started our own line of paper in 2008 – now we design more scrapbooking paper than any other scrapbooking company. We started making custom die cuts in 2007 and custom paper in 2008 – now we have more custom items that you can make uniquely yours than any other scrapbooking company.
And look how far we’ve come in four years!
Glacier Bay Die Cut from 2006
Glacier Bay Die Cut Added 3/17/2010
A couple of months ago I was interviewed on The Room Live and when they asked me what the secret to my success was, one of the things I said was "Ask your customers what they want. Do that." We started creating our own products back in 2006 because you were asking me for things I couldn’t find for you. It has been so incredibly rewarding to watch the SYT brand of products grow and flourish over the past four years. Thank you for getting us started down the path!
And so, since one of the secrets of our success is "Ask your customers what they want. Do that.", I want to take this opportunity to ask you again what you want. It’s a completely open-ended question and I can’t wait to read your suggestions! Please post a comment below.
Besides our own collection, we have several others for you this week. We have "Green at Heart" by Basic Grey, “Easter”, "Prom" and “Graduation” by Reminisce, "Modern Market" by Cookbookin’, “Abode” and “Heatwave” by American Crafts, "Rev ‘Em Up" and “Smile” by Carolee’s Creations, and “Ballet” and “Basketball” by Karen Foster.
For all of you that have been asking for Alice in Wonderland products, the SYT Designers heard you and have designed a few die cuts just for you…. (Yes, Twilight fans – we hear you too! Stay tuned! Some other themes our designers have worked hard on this week are: Beach, Cruise, Easter, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, Fishing, Hunting, Cooking, Theme Park, Florida, Alaska and California. We also have a custom general travel die cut and, as I may have mentioned (beaming with pride), our very own custom baseball paper to match our SYT baseball collection!
Don’t forget to check out projects for this week’s collections down the right-hand side of the website. You can see all our projects on our Shop by Layout section. Click here to see: http://www.scrapyourtrip.com/shopbylayout.html
Want a free $10 electronic gift card? Or $20? They are yours with either a $59 or $110 purchase. Just add the Gift Certificate to your order (http://www.scrapyourtrip.com/10gice.html or http://www.scrapyourtrip.com/20gice.html) and enter the coupon code and the Gift Certificate will be yours free! (Cannot be combined with any other offer. Offer expires at 11:59 Eastern Time, Friday, March 19, 2010).
And remember, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, we can always make a custom title or paper just for you! Click here to see all our custom options: www.scrapyourtrip.com/custom.html
Have you seen the YouTube video from OK Go for their song “This Too Shall Pass”? It’s one of the new viral video sensations and has over 7 million views. It is SO amazing; I had to share it with you.
This video really speaks to me on a lot of levels. First, the song is called “This Too Shall Pass”, which is one of my favorite sayings. But here’s why it really speaks to me (which you won’t understand unless you watch it).
Life is a string of events. First one thing happens…which causes another thing…that causes another thing…and so on…and so on…and so on. We never know what’s going to happen next, but I believe it all happens just as it should. Perfectly on time. And umbrellas may fall out of the sky, but it all started with a State Farm truck and a domino
Hope you enjoy the video. Even if it doesn’t speak to you like it did to me, it’s still really cool!
Speaking of cool, have you seen all our cool new scrapbook supplies this week?
We have a great variety of new collections this week. We have "Lucky Me" and “The Great Outdoors” by Reminisce, "Sport Trendy" by Stamping Station, "Garden Variety" by Cosmo Cricket, "Simply K", “Blossomwood” and “Nature” by K and Company and “Baptism”, “Off Road”, “Wedding” and “Easter” by Karen Foster.
You have got to check out "Simply K" byt K&Co. There are 11 pre-designed, two-page layouts. They are even embellished! It doesn’t get any easier than this.
The SYT Designers were working on the following themes: Ballet, Basketball, Birthday, Boys and Girls, Cruise, Disney, Firefighter, Grand Canyon, Japan, Judo, London, Mexico, New Mexico, Paris, Pets, Police, Sea World, Snowmobiling, St. Pat’s, Travel and Williamsburg We also have a custom Firefighter laser die cut.
Don’t forget to check out projects for this week’s collections down the right-hand side of the website. You can see all our projects on our Shop by Layout section. Click here to see: http://www.scrapyourtrip.com/shopbylayout.html
And remember, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, we can always make a custom title or paper just for you! Click here to see all our custom options: www.scrapyourtrip.com/custom.html
“It takes a long time to grow an old friend” – John Leonard
What would we do without our girlfriends? Who would we laugh with…cry with…swap stories with? Our girlfriends often know us much better than we know ourselves. Time with my girlfriends is a gift I give myself (just not often enough).
I had a four-hour lunch on Sunday with my oldest girlfriend (oldest by length of friendship – not age!). We’ve been friends for thirteen years. We started working together at my last company at about the same time and our departments worked very closely together. We had lunch together almost every single day for almost six years.
She helped me celebrate my promotion. We cried together the day we found out our company was downsizing our jobs.
She knew me before I had kids. She was there for me through all my miscarriages. She was the one who told me I was in labor with Lauren when I was in her office complaining about my “Braxton-Hicks” contractions. She was the first one to visit me at home, bringing me a dish of Chicken Spaghetti, when Logan was in the ICU.
Over the past few years, we have seen each other less and less. Usually just a lunch get together for each of our birthdays. But she is the type of friend that you can pick up right where you left off, even if you haven’t seen each other in awhile.
She was the first person who called me when I wrote that I was getting a divorce. “Why did I have to find out about this from your e-mail?!?”
We talked and talked and talked on Sunday. I kept thinking how wonderful it was to have someone who knows me that well…who knows everything that has happened to me over the past thirteen years…who just “gets me”.
So, to continue my “attitude of gratitude”, today, I am grateful for my girlfriends. Their friendship enriches my life.
Now on to scrapbook supplies!
We have a great variety of new collections this week. We have "Lucky Me" and “The Great Outdoors” by Reminisce, "Sport Trendy" by Stamping Station, "Garden Variety" by Cosmo Cricket, "Simply K", “Blossomwood” and “Nature” by K and Company and “Baptism”, “Off Road”, “Wedding” and “Easter” by Karen Foster.
You have got to check out "Simply K" by K&Co. There are 11 pre-designed, two-page layouts. They are even embellished! It doesn’t get any easier than this.
The SYT Designers were working on the following themes: Ballet, Basketball, Birthday, Boys and Girls, Cruise, Disney, Firefighter, Grand Canyon, Japan, Judo, London, Mexico, New Mexico, Paris, Pets, Police, Sea World, Snowmobiling, St. Pat’s, Travel and Williamsburg We also have a custom Firefighter laser die cut.
Don’t forget to check out projects for this week’s collections down the right-hand side of the website. You can see all our projects on our Shop by Layout section. Click here to see: http://www.scrapyourtrip.com/shopbylayout.html
And remember, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, we can always make a custom title or paper just for you! Click here to see all our custom options: www.scrapyourtrip.com/custom.html
I had a really interesting conversation with Lani the other day. We were talking about someone I know who, if out of 100 things, 99 are wrong but one is right, they will find the one thing that is wrong. I told her I am the opposite. If there are 99 things wrong and one thing right, I will find the one thing that is right. Ever the optimist, I suppose. Or maybe, it’s just how I choose to look at the world. What can I say? It’s gift!
This really came into play for me the other night when my minivan was broken into. A “smash and grab” of the driver’s side backseat window. I was at Bed Bath & Beyond getting stuff for my new house. I was parked in the closest parking space to the door underneath a streetlight. It took a few seconds for me to realize what had happened and notice that my briefcase was in a different position in the backseat than where I had left it. I went through my briefcase and saw that my Flip Video Camera was gone.
I went back into the store and asked them for a broom and a dustpan so that I could get some of the glass out of my car. I told them I didn’t want to call the police. And I almost immediately started thinking of all the ways this could have been so much worse and how grateful I was.
I was grateful the kids weren’t with me. Besides glass being everywhere, I know it would have really freaked them out.
I was grateful that the only thing of value in my briefcase was my Flip. Just that morning, I had taken out my iPod, my old cell phone and my checkbook.
I was grateful that they put my briefcase back in the van. All the stuff I am getting together for my tax return was in there. And all the paperwork for the divorce.
I was grateful that it was 60 degrees that night instead of the 45 degrees it has been every night so that I wasn’t freezing cold on my drive home.
I was grateful that I can afford to get my window replaced and that I don’t have to drive around with a plastic bag and duct tape on my van.
An attitude of gratitude. It has made such a difference in my life. Yes, bad things happen. But there is always…ALWAYS…something to be grateful for. What can you be grateful for today?
And remember, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, we can always make a custom title or paper just for you! Click here to see all our custom options: www.scrapyourtrip.com/custom.html
My daughter has hit the “double digits”. Yep, on Monday she turned 10! I took her to get her ears pierced and she had a “girl hang-out” birthday party at our new house with six of her best friends from school.
It really does just seem like yesterday that “Miss Nellie”, her babysitter, made her an Elmo cake for her first birthday. But this birthday party? The girls picked up the coffee table to move it out of the way and had a dance-off to “All The Single Ladies” by Beyonce in my living room. How did nine years go by so fast?
I am old enough and wise enough now to listen to the parents before me who say “I blinked and here she is…graduating from high school”. Her life living with me is more than halfway over. It really does feel like the older I get, the faster time goes by.
So, as has been my theme for the past year or so, I am just trying to live in the present and enjoy every moment with her. Even when she was embarrassed to have me watch her dancing at her party and didn’t want me to take pictures of her and her friends. She also made me promise I wouldn’t put them in my e-mail or on Facebook.
But, I still took them. I still captured the memories. And while she isn’t thrilled about it now, there will come a time later in her life, when she looks back on all the memories I have captured of her (thanks to being in the scrapbooking world) and she will be glad I ignored her.
I love you, my sweet girl. I am SO lucky to be your Mom.
We are having a HUGE Overstock Sale! Over 1000 items are marked 25% off. Don’t worry, they are not discontinued. We just have too many of them! Sale prices are good through Friday, March 5th. Click here to see all the items: http://www.scrapyourtrip.com/clearance.html
And remember, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, we can always make a custom title or paper just for you! Click here to see all our custom options: www.scrapyourtrip.com/custom.html
Four days ago I moved into a new house. Within those four days, it has become home. I feel more at home there than I ever did in the six months I lived in the condo in Celebration.
The first sign for me was when I changed the “Go Home” address in my GPS in the car. I had never done that. Then I changed the address on my driver’s license. I also am spending time figuring out where I want things to go, instead of just unpacking and putting it somewhere, like I did when I unpacked at the condo.
But the biggest thing that is going to make it home happened last night when the kids and I got home from after-school care. There is an alley behind our house that runs in-between everyone’s garages. As we pulled into the alley, there were kids everywhere! My kids squealed with delight and said “Look! Kids!”
Unfortunately, the neighborhood that Dad lives in has virtually no kids. So, my kids have never really had neighborhood kids to play with. It has saddened me for years and I started talking about moving 4-5 years ago. But we never did.
I had hoped that was the environment we were moving to in Celebration, but that didn’t turn out either.
My across-the-alley neighbor had a home party last night and invited me over. My default position would have normally been “No, thanks. I have to finish unpacking.” But, I decided to go and met lots of my new neighbors. They all said “Oh! You moved to one of the best alleys in the neighborhood! There are TONS of kids here!”
It filled me with joy to see my kids riding bikes and scooters with the kids in the neighborhood. I am hopeful that along with our new “home” comes the childhood I have always wanted for my kids.
Alright…enough about me!
Have you had a chance to check out our new items for the week? We have lots to look at, like "Lucky Me" by Little Yellow Bicycle, "Unwritten" and “Glitter Factory” by Reminisce, "Transportation" and "Mr. & Mrs" by Best Creation, "Poppyseed" by K and Company, “Disney Slims” by EK Success, USA and International paper and stickers by Paperhouse Productions and “Winter Fun” by Stamping Station.
I adore the "Poppyseed" line by K&Co. Anything with purple in it takes me to my happy place!
And remember, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, we can always make a custom title or paper just for you! Click here to see all our custom options: www.scrapyourtrip.com/custom.html
My sunflower wreath is hanging on a new front door.
Many of you might remember an email I sent out in September when I moved out of the house and the kids and I moved into a condo in Celebration (a Disney master planned community). I hung a sunflower wreath on the front door, because just like a sunflower, wherever I am planted, I will always grow to face the sun.
Condo living was new and fun and exciting at the beginning. We had an elevator! The condo was so much smaller and cozy! I can take the trash to the trash room anytime I want!
Living in the community of Celebration was also really exciting in the beginning. It’s such a small town feel, right in the middle of the city.
But after 6 months (Wow! I can’t believe it’s been six months already!), the excitement has worn off. We all miss living in a house with a yard. And a garage.
And I miss my regular grocery store. And my regular Target, Walgreens, restaurants, etc.
So, yesterday, we moved into a house. It’s four minutes from school back in our old “neck of the woods”. A lot of the kids’ classmates live in the neighborhood (including Lauren’s best friend) and there are a lot of other kids nearby. And while the real estate market is not so good for homeowners right now, it’s awesome for renters!
The kids are super-duper excited. I am excited too, but I am also really nervous. It feels a little overwhelming right now.
Awhile ago, my scrapbook rep, Phyllis made a comment about “pink jobs” and “blue jobs”. Everything is a “pink job” now and that kind of has me a little freaked out. But, I’m strong and independent and I’m sure it will all be fine after we get all settled in. It’s the only choice I have.
In an effort to make this place feel more like home, I let the kids pick out new bedding and decorations for their rooms. I put it all together yesterday while they were at school and it was so cute to see the looks on their faces when they got home.
Let the new Mommy Swatek Family adventure begin!
Bring on the scrapbook supplies!
We have several new collections for you this week. We have "Lucky Me" by Little Yellow Bicycle, "Unwritten" and “Glitter Factory” by Reminisce, "Transportation" and "Mr. & Mrs" by Best Creation, "Poppyseed" by K and Company, “Disney Slims” by EK Success, USA and International paper and stickers by Paperhouse Productions and “Winter Fun” by Stamping Station.
We added another seven new projects based on this week’s collections. They are located down the right-hand side of the website. You can see all our projects on our Shop by Layout section. Click here to see: http://www.scrapyourtrip.com/shopbylayout.html
And remember, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, we can always make a custom title or paper just for you! Click here to see all our custom options: www.scrapyourtrip.com/custom.html
How open to new experiences are you? Are you adventurous? Or like most people, is "no thanks" your default answer when someone asks you to try something new?
This was my dinner conversation last night at a sushi restaurant, eating with four new friends I had just met. I am a wimpy sushi eater. Only California rolls for me! But, all the others were big sushi fans and had ordered all sorts of stuff for the table.
In my new life, I’ve decided I wanted to be open to trying new things, so I tried every type of sushi that showed up at the table. Some were delicious. Some were not. But I tried them all!
We had a great conversation about how scary it is to try new things sometimes and how we all wanted to do a better job at being open about it. Tuna Tataki on Crispy Rice was a good start for me.
Had a chance to check out our new additions and new overstock items for the week?
And remember, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, we can always make a custom title or paper just for you! Click here to see all our custom options: www.scrapyourtrip.com/custom.html
I hope you had a great Valentine’s Day. Mine was absolutely wonderful!
Several years ago, Tony & I started taking the kids out for “date night” for Valentine’s Day. He always takes Lauren to Roy’s. She gets all dressed up and Daddy treats her like a lady.
Every year though, I’ve gotten the short end of the stick, because Logan is so much younger. Last year he picked Sweet Tomatoes and the year before that was go-kart riding at Fun Spot and corn dogs.
But, he is 7 now and we finally had a real “date”. We went to The Plantation Room at the Celebration Hotel. We both got all dressed up and I told him if he was going to be my date, then he had to be a “gentleman”.
He was so cute! He opened my car door, walked beside me, holding my hand instead of walking ahead of me and pulled out my chair for me at the restaurant.
He was so proud of himself and was looking at me with such pure love shining out of his eyes that it took all I had not to cry.
We shared a five-course DELICIOUS meal. As we were choosing what we wanted for each course, we had chose a crab appetizer and she-crab bisque. There was a choice between seafood and steak for the entrée and he said we should pick the steak because “we already have a lot from the ocean”.
After dessert, our server took him back into the kitchen and the chef gave him a long-stemmed red rose to give to me. “Give this to your Mom and tell her Happy Valentine’s Day and I Love You”. He came out from the kitchen beaming ear to ear and presented me with the rose. I bawled.
I was so proud of him. He was the perfect little gentleman. And the perfect Valentine’s Day date.
We have several new collections for you this week. We have "Joy Ride" and "Material Girl" by Cosmo Cricket, "Hit the Slopes" and "Faith" by Moxxie, "Hockey", "Doctor Visit" and "In Memory" by Karen Foster, "Real Sports" Baseball, Basketball, Golf, Softball and Tennis by Reminisce, and "Once Upon A Dream" by Best Creations. We also have crystals from a brand new vendor, Zva.
The SYT Designers were working on the following themes this week: Africa, Air Force, California, Canada, Celebrations, Civil War, Easter, England, Faith, Farming, Football, France, General Travel, Germany, Hawaii, Hockey, India, Ireland, Italy, Kids, Marines, Military, Pets, Romance, Scrapbooking, Skiing, Space, Valentines, Vietnam War, Winter, Zoo
Thank you again to everyone who shared their perfect day! There were 6 winners of $25 SYT gift certificates: Stephanie, Nancy, Betsey, Lori, Tiffany and Julie. Ladies, your gift certificate codes will be in your e-mail boxes today!
We added another six new projects based on this week’s collections. They are located down the right-hand side of the website. You can see all our projects on our Shop by Layout section. Click here to see: http://www.scrapyourtrip.com/shopbylayout.html
And remember, if you can’t find what you’re looking for, we can always make a custom title or paper just for you! Click here to see all our custom options: www.scrapyourtrip.com/custom.html
