We're home! Happy and sad. But, before I get into that I have to do some bragging. Have you heard of the Phoenix New Times Best Of 2006? Mystic Paper was chosen as the best Scrapbook store of 2006!!! How cool is that? Here's the link so you can check it out yourself. http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/bestof/award.php?oid=oid:197021§ion=oid:24274&year=2006
Our son-in-law is definitely on his way to Iraq. I guess you always hold on to that last shred of hope that maybe someone can bring this war to an end. Didn't happen. It was good to spend time with them, but sad knowing that for at least one year he will be in constant danger and Cristine will be at home by herself raising two boys. I think that means that Grandma will have to make lots of trips to Colorado don't you?

We had a blast junking our way around Nebraska. Needless to say we came home looking like a bunch of hillbillies. The chicken coops were tied to the top because the entire van was completely full! Boy did we get some looks on the way home. Plus, we were driving a rental van that had New Jersey plates on it. Jersey hillbillies, somehow that just doesn't sound right! Needless to say, Rick is very happy with his found treasures!

The scenery and weather was fantastic except for the freezing rain we had the first day. Did I have on the right clothes to be junking in a freezing rain? Heck no! How can you leave 100 degree weather and be prepared for freezing. Cold yes, freezing no! I am way too acclimated to the desert. I know this doesn't look like freezing rain, but it was!






Besides this one day it was gorgeous. From what I saw of Nebraska it's a beautiful state.
So, all in all it was a nice vacation. And here's the best part...

Dylan and Mason all snuggled up with Grandpa!

O.K. first things first...I don't know what I was thinking (or not thinking) last night when I posted the pictures of the ITF'S. We have five not four. So here is number five. Life's travels. There are more pictures in the previous blogs (just a little confusing) to figure out which one is which. But, don't let that stop you from voting!!!









Well this isn't the picture I wanted to post but, since you all know I don't know how to remove them once they're there we're pretty much stuck with it. This is our new sign for the store. Can't miss us now. I think it's the biggest sign on the street. This is dear husband and brother-in-law hard at work. Tall ladders make me nervous and look at him in this next photo. Totally freaking me out!!! Here is the finished project. Again, photo issues....whatever! Leaving for Colorado tomorrow. Who knows, maybe I'll blog from there!

O.K. Here is one photo of all four ITF's. Maybe this will make more sense! To see more photos of each entry scroll down through the next two postings. This picture thing is going to get the best of me. They still go where they want but at least all four are in one place.

Jennifer's mom made it through surgery and seems to be doing good. I am still leaving on Wednesday but all of the classes that are scheduled for evenings from 6 - 9 pm are covered. Nothing is being cancelled.

So vote, vote, vote! Please!!! It's been fun getting the e-mails with your votes. But you can call, or post on the blog, or come in to the store!

Thanks!!

Life's Travels











Travel Journal

So, there you have it! Our four entries. Gorgeous huh? Please remember to vote.

And I guess I answered my own question. You can only load so many pictures on the blog. That is, until Susan Keuter gives me some blog know how. Also, just a couple more things....Jennifer's mom is in the hospital having open heart surgery today. Thoughts and prayers are gratefully accepted. I am leaving for Colorado on Wednesday to see my daughter and son-in-law who is being sent back to Iraq for a year at the end of this month. Again, thoughts and prayers gratefully accepted. I am telling you this because it may have an affect on the stores hours. Hopefully not, but we may need to close around 5 or 6 for a few days. We hope this doesn't cause any inconvenience.

Now, on to other fun things. We had a visit from 3 super funny women from Oregon Friday evening. They call themselves the "Snip-its" because that's what they do. They visit as many stores as they can and judge them based on customer service, product, display, etc. Then they post snip-its (where I don't know) about how they either loved, liked, or didn't like the store. I'm sure we're in the love category! They were a blast. Thanks Cindy, Laurie (the dramatic one), and Cathy for coming in.

So, that's it for this ultra long blog fest. Just remember, VOTE!!!!!

As promised (just a little late) here are the photos of our ITF's for this month. Please e-mail, call, comment on the blog, anything, just VOTE! Better yet, come into the store and see these gorgeous entries in person. Vote using the name of the project you think is best. The contestants all purchased the same page kit and then added their own creative touch to get the finished project.
Passport To Yesterday

Family Reunion

Road Trip

O.K. I have run into technical difficulties uploading the pictures. Maybe the Blog only has so much room for photos. The rest of the pictures will be on the next blog right after this one! Susan Keuter HELP!!

Boy have we had a busy week at Mystic Paper! Creative Escape kept us hopping all weekend. A huge thanks to all of you crazy women who drove here straight from the airport so you could shop before the classes began. And the group that came in the limo, all I can say is I sure wish I would have known so I could have gotten a picture of all of you piling out of the limo in front of the store! You crazy scrappers!

We had a fun class taught by Mr. Pickle himself Lance Anderson. Lance is the most laid back teacher I have ever seen. Here is a picture of us making a pickle sandwich. Not to brag, but Lance said he has traveled all over the world and been in alot of stores and he said "This is the coolest store I've ever been in." How cool is that? He even took pictures of our brand new display at the front of the store. It just happened to be his products!

The class was a blast. Don't they look like they're having fun?
Don'cha think he has the best job in the world? He travels all over the world and teaches women (and 4 men) about scrapbooking. And we pay him on top of that! Shhh, don't tell your husbands, they'll all want to quit their jobs and start scrapbooking.



Our next big evening was a class that was taught by our paper bag queen, Michelle. Her filled to capacity class was attended by a group that was celebrating their friends birthday. They all signed up for the class and surprised Jackie.
And, they know how to celebrate. Take a look at this homemade cake....and the taste....they can celebrate here any time. They even brought enough to share with the whole class.

Here's the birthday girl and all of her friends. Jackie is sitting down second from left at the top of the picture. Happy Birthday Jackie!

Tomorrow's blog will have pictures of all of our ITF's. Please take the time to either comment on the blog and vote on your favorite ITF, call us, e-mail us...something! It's up to you from now on. We are jumping on to the world of reality scrapbooking. I'll be e-mailing pictures to everyone also. We have already received some awesome entries. So, what is an ITF? It is our invention - Imagine Takes Flight. We put together a new kit each month. You take it home and create whatever comes to mind. Bring it back by the 15th, we have it judged by all of YOU and the winner gets next month's kit free! Cool! Voting will end on the 28th and the winner will be announced on the 30th. So tell all of your friends to log on and vote for their favorite entry. Watch for tomorrow's posting which will be full of snipits! What????