Photo Expressions

Save the Date October 20th and come crop with me!

This woman inspires me!  Many of you know Doreen as you have attended her fundraising crops before. Over 4 years ago, Doreen was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer (there is no stage 5) and not given very long to live.  She is a fighter, has the most amazing positive attitude and a huge network of people who prayed very hard for her.  As you can see above from this summer photo of her ziptrecking, she gave cancer the "what for" and is winning.  I am proud to call her my friend.

Her husband has vowed to walk in the Weekend to End Breast Cancer until a cure is found. Doreen has also decided to walk in the 2008 event. Many of her family and friends walk in honour of her on the team, Doreen's Miracle (Renee, Tam and I walked the first year they did this 4 years ago). To support their fundraising efforts, Doreen is hosting a crop in October and Photo Express is helping to sponsor it.  It was almost sold out last year and she has even more fun things planned this year, so don't wait too long to get a ticket.  Details here.

I am so excited because I will get to sit and scrapbook for 12 whole glorious hours all while supporting an amazing cause (1 in 9 women will be affected by breast cancer so someone you know will!) and having fun.  Throw in some chocolate and I'm a happy camper!  Can't wait to see you all there too!

Michele

Digital Scrapbooking

You have come to trust that PE is always in the forefront of what is hot and new both product wise and technology wise.  Digital Scrapbooking is creating more and more of a buzz.  PE has been offering digital scrapbooking classes for a few years now - everything from learning Photoshop Elements, to using  your digital camera, to beginner to advanced level Digital Scrapbooking. If you are curious about Digital Scrapbooking, watch for another Digital Bootcamp in October or sign up for some of the digital classes in September. You'll be amazed what you can do with your computer as a scrapbook tool and I've been having fun exploring this medium.

You can also print your digital creations at Photo Express in any size you want, and we will mail them to you anywhere in Canada for only $5!  It is often hard to find somewhere to print them in 12x12 and this is just one of the many choices of sizes you have. The quality of print you will receive will be amazing and archival and is less expensive than trying to do it yourself when you consider the cost of your paper and inks (not to mention your time). You may also want to consider turning them into a hardsided photobook perfect for gift giving or your coffee table. If you're already creating digital layouts, now is the time to get them printed on archival quality photo paper, using a fully calibrated printer. Try it out, you'll be amazed!

You will also now find a selection of products to support Digital scrapbookers at PE. There isn't near as much available as for paper scrapbookers, but we are hunting it out and bringing the good stuff to you.  6 awesome CD's Digital Scrapbook Memories are in with wonderful papers and embellishments, Tinkering Ink  all their paper lines available as a Digital CD, and a few other companies also have product available at the retail level that we will be carrying. Watch as this section in the store expands.

Not everyone will like digital scrapbooking just as not everyone will like paperscrapbooking.  Some will become hybrid scrapbookers that like to do both.  Either way, you will find the support and products you need at Photo Express. Don't hesitate to come in and ask questions.

Here is a short video clip from Digital Scrapbook Memories showing some of what you can do with digital scrapbooking. They also have a page full of great tips and tutorials if you'd like to learn from the comfort of your home. Enjoy!

Trust Us With Your Memories
Michele

New Basic Grey, Cosmo Cricket and Robin's Nest

Basic Grey

Cosmo Cricket
This is the coolest album - it comes in a suitcase - store the album on one side and memorabilia on the other!
Robin's nest - Many of these papers are full of glitter (it is hard to tell, but the white snowflake paper is just gorgeous.

New stickers

Lots of new stickers from SRM including new harder to find sports and new Countries.  Love that Canada is not red and white but more outdoorsy colours.

And look...Vancouver and Victoria stickers!  Part of the Alaska Cruise Line but hey, I'll take it.
Also new school from preschool up to gr 12 and new sports papers.

New Scenic Route, Reminisce and Fancy Pants

Some more great products that have come in recently

From Scenic Route:
Ashville

Sumner

And many new lines from Reminisce including:

And New Fancy Pants (this has turned into one of my favourites.  Love their lines)

Tinkering Ink, Mighty Bright Lights and Vituri Fashion

Just a few of the new things in at PE

Tinkering Ink (click to see the cool products!)is a cool new company.  They have very "Hip" scrapbook papers with vibrant colours - they challenge you to "haute scrap". You can even get all of the papers on digital DVD's - this line is perfect for the paper scrapbooker, the digital scrapbooker and the hybrid scrapbooker who does both! What a great idea. The owner even named a line after New Westminster where she spent time.  Her and her husband also lived on Salt Spring so they love thits area!  Here are a few samples from their website:

Mighty Bright Lights are super cute and functional. Two Super LED lights in one head gives you the lighting power of 6 normal LED's (and they never need replacing). Brilliant light output! You have the option of using one or two of the Super LED lights with just a simple tap to a switch. The flexible neck allows you to position your lighting anywhere you want it.  They are battery operated so perfect to bring to your next crop or for reading in the car!  There is also an AC adaptor so you can use them in your scrapbook room or when you just have to read your new scrapbook magazine in bed. The special lens spreads light evenly with no hot spots and the arm can bend to point the light in any direction.  Available in pink, purple, blue and green.

And all the AMM totes and bags are finally in.  I already had the shoulder bag and now have the rolling bag too.  It is a great size to bring to crops or your friends house, I'm using mine to bring my laptop to work and back, and it will make a very functional and fashionable bag to bring on the plane.  Available in black and hot pink Available in luxurious Raspberry or Black pebbled faux-leather finishes, Vituri   Urban bags have that Italian designer look and can easily carry all your crafting   necessities in unparalleled style and elegance..

Vituri fashion camera bags are also in.     Until now, cameras, whether simple or complex, have been hidden away in drab     gray-black nylon bags. Now, AMM has made a fashion statement of the lowly camera bag, and in doing so, has made capturing images a lot more fun! These bags are fashionable and functional and available in many different styles and sizes and most can also be used as a purse.  Come in and find the size for your camera.

 

Katiana has a flight home!

For those of you following the story of Natasha and her struggles to bring her daughter Katiana home from Haiti, I have great news!  Everything is finally done and they have flights to Haiti booked!  You can read more about this on Natasha's blog .  I am just about bursting with happiness and excitement for the Hixon's.

Michele

65% (75% for members) off Lil' Davis, 7 Gypsies, Design Runner and Memories Complete

The Making Memories Warehouse sale was a huge success and you'll be happy to know we also purchased a whole bunch of products from the above companies that were clearing out their warehouses and are passing the savings on to you again!  Huge selection of papers, ribbons, foam stamps, embellishments, rubons, stickers, kits and more.  The back class tables are again overflowing.  Stop in for fantastic savings. (and while you are at it, you can also check out all the cool new stuff pouring in from the CHA summer show!)

Trust Us With Your Memories,
Michele

Cool idea for your fridge

This is a cool idea from Wendy Smedley of Simple Scrapbooks.  Glad I found it, because just a few days ago, I was saying to my daughter that I need to update our fridge magnets.  Our fridge is always full of invitations, photos, artwork, important notices etc and our magnets are mostly from whatever business was handing them out.  I thought it would look cool to scrapbook something for the fridge, but hadn't had time to think about it yet.  I love the clothes pins and magnet marbles

You can see the article here with more ideas.  Is it time to freshen up your fridge?

Michele

Simple Schemes

Jumpstart the creative process with Simple Schemes from Simple Scrapbooks magazine! A Simple Scheme is a blueprint for a scrapbook page layout. Just plug your photos, title, journaling, and embellishments into the appropriate spots.See more Simple Schemes here . 

What I Did On My Summer Vacation Foto Contest

The foto source "What I Did On My Summer Vacation" Photo Contest is back.  There are over $5000 in prizes this year!  This contest runs across Canada and last year, Photo Express customers won 2 out of 5 prizes! Woohooo!!! Looks like our camera classes and photo editing classes are paying off! (Watch for more great classes this fall).

This year there are 10 prizes.  The grand prize includes a Nikon D40x digital SLR camera and other goodies.  Entries will be accepted starting September 10th, so get snapping!  For more details and to sign up for an e-mail reminder, click here.

Trust Us With Your Memories,

Michele

Stinkin' Cute Monkey QuicKutz die

This monkey is sooooo cute!  This is an exclusive die designed by Angela Urbano (a QK Design team member and scrapbook store owner in Ontario).  She has emailed some retailers to see if they would like to carry this die.  Of course I said YES!  He is a Doublekutz die and we have been asked to not discount the Canadian price of $16.99.  He will be arriving within the next 2 weeks so preorder yours today (604-463-6993, [email protected] or drop in!) 

Preorder your copy of Simply Cards Today

The time has come to reveal the best kept secret in town! The team at Scrapbook and Cards Today  (you know that beautiful FREE magazine we give out 4 times a year!) has been very busy these past six months working on ……… Simply Cards Today! Simply Cards Today is a beautifully designed idea book showcasing over 90 card designs, tips, techniques, envelopes, templates and sketches. They approached 20 of the following card designers in North America to showcase their best artwork -
                   
                    Angela Urbano ... Audrey Neal ... Christine Hill .... Christine Traversa ... Holly Pittroff
Jessica Witty ... Kerry McRorie ... Kim Hughes ... Kimber McGray ... Krista Schneider
Linda Beeson ... Maria Burke ... Melanie Blackburn ... Melanie Gooding .... Melissa Phillips
Rozanne Dioso-Lopez ... Sherry Wright ... Tami Mayberry ... Tina Werner .... Vicki Boutin
                   
They asked for the best of the best and were not disappointed! This 120 page idea book will please card makers everywhere.

Simply Cards Today will only be distributed through independent scrapbook stores across North America and of course Photo Express will be one of them.  This will be a limited edition print, so make sure to preorder your copy today (books will arrive the week of October 6th) for only $15.95. Give us a call 604-463-3654, email us [email protected] or drop in and order yours.

Michele                   
                     

Woohooo Katiana has her passport and will be home soon!

Natasha has let me know that they finally have Katiana's passport and they will be flying to Haiti within a week or two to bring her home.  She got the news yestersday on her birthday - how fitting.  Happy Birthday Natasha!!!

This is just the start of all the shoes and sheets and clothes in their living room.  Plus the $500 all you PE'ers generously helped to fundraise is on its way to Natasha and will enable them to bring more supplies to Haiti. 

I can just imagine how excited the Hixon's are.  What an incredible feeling to finally have all the hard work and waiting pay off.  Natasha has promised to show us pictures  of the kids at the orphanage when they arrive with all this stuff.  It will be like Christmas.  You can keep track of what is happening on Natasha's blog .  I am bursting with happiness for them!
Michele

Lunch Box Ideas

I got this email from Kraft today with some lunch box ideas .  Perfect timing since this morning I was just talking to my 2 older daughters and saying it was time for them to make their lunches for school.  We are going to decorate a 3 ring binder and put some of these ideas in there for them.  Makes them feel like they are "cooking"! So for those of you with kids heading back to school, you'll find some good ideas on this site.  I like the lunchbox jokes.  When I go away to trade shows, I always leave a note for each daughter for their lunchboxes for each day.  They love them!  I should actually make them up for some other days also.  I just use cardstock and cut to business card size and then decorate with a sticker or Jolee's or QuicKutz shape and write an inspiring or love message on it.  Give it a try and sneak them into their lunchboxes.  It will make them smile.

Michele