In HELEN’S January 22nd e-newsletter that has just been sent out it talks about the Craft Hobby Association Winter 2010 Convention & Trade Show that Helen will be attending.

I’m interested in seeing what dog-themed scrapbooking items Helen finds while out in Anaheim.  She will be making updates to HELEN’S facebook fan page during her visit.

Click here to subscribe to HELEN’S e-mailings if you are not already receiving.

Here’s to a paws-it-ively successful CHA!

best, Cuddy
Cuddy is HELEN’S family dog and Mascot, he’ll tell you he’s underpaid in dog biscuits for writing his blog!

HELEN’S January 22nd e-newsletter has been sent out – CHA Bound! is a post from: Cuddy's Corner

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Making introductions at a tweetup is fun – I find myself asking “What is your twitter id?” and from there figuring out if we are already following each other and if not getting each other added to our lists and followers.

These tweeps were at tonight’s event:  @fussbudgetpromo, @HIEXWilmington, @glynnesoaps,  @DawnBugni, @shanbow, @gardenofwords, @TheGigabeer, @HELENSStudio,@3athlete, @dalm8ton, @NicoleCarina.   

This was my third Tweet-Up to attend and I found myself looking for Wilmington tweetup regulars — @NatashaNDavis, and @BruceBrownNC – you’all were missed!

The doorprize was donated by my business,  HELEN’S Scrapbooking Studio and was won by Jessica Dowell. Congratulations!  She successfully won the trivia game led by Sarah Barbee.   Jessica won a HELEN’S 12×12 signature scrapbook 3-ring album and the new Winter  issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today magazine. HELEN’S is the only independent scrapbook retailer in North Carolina who carries this magazine which is published quarterly.

Jessica and Helen at Wilmington TweetUp Dec 2009

If you have never been to a tweetup and are considering attending one – I encourage you to add one to your to-do list for 2010!  Now that I’ve gone through 1000 business cards and having new ones printed, I am going to be sure to have my twitter id included – especially when at Tweet-Ups its so nice to have that information already included on your card.

Looking forward to next year’s TweetUp events!

best, Helen

p.s.  Cuddy reports that he was wondering what happened to the antlers headband – and happy to see they are now back home.  He is keeping an eye on them for Santa Paws visit!

Wilmington, NC TweetUp – December 2009 is a post from: Cuddy's Corner

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Scrappin 'NC December Fundraiser

It was a fun time having the photo taken this evening towards the end of the Scrappin ‘NC Holiday Crop.

All proceeds will help provide a happy holiday for one family in Wilmington.

Photo, front row:  Miranda, Kelly, Helen

Back row:  Lee, Janet, Sandee, Debi, Barbara

Santa’s Reindeers! is a post from: Cuddy's Corner

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The Tonic Shape-Mates Cutting System arrived at the studio this week.  As mascot, one of my jobs is to help inspect new items!   I did a thorough job of inspecting this system, here’s what is in the collection.

Tonic Shape Mates Cutting System

1 Shape Mate Glass Mat 13×13 TN465;

1 Shape Mate Blade Carriage with 2 blades TN700;

1 Shape Mate Spare Blades Package (2 blades) TN715;

1 Shape Mate Shapes – Squares (6 pieces) TN751;

1 Shape Mate Shapes – Rectangles (6 pieces) TN752;

1 Shape Mate Shapes – Circles (6 pieces) TN753;

1 Shape Mate Shapes – Ovals (6 pieces) TN754; and

1 Shape Mate Shapes – Ruler Pack (4 pieces) TN756.

Helen’s Scrapbooking Studio & More is located in North Carolina (both brick-and-mortar and online).  It has been fun investigating new scrapbook tools for the studio use. And  i’m delighted to report this entire collection is being added to our online store too!

Wishing you a Shape-Making day!

best, Cuddy

Cuddy inspects the Tonic Shape-Mate Cutting System! is a post from: Cuddy's Corner

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If you are new to my blog, please let me paws and share with you that I’m Cuddy, the Mascot for HELEN’S and Main Blogger.  We have found when it comes to blogging that with the computer keyboard I am all paws so Helen helps me!

HELEN’S focus is on helping you get your albums completed with your stories told.  She is always stressing journaling (in your own handwriting or printing out from your computer and including on your pages, the whole topic of journaling we’ll save for another day!) 

There are many things a new scrapbooker (or seasoned cropper) can do to help keep their costs down and help them be good stewards with their money.  One of these areas is in the topic of basic (non-digital) scrapbooking tools. 

In addition to acquiring your own collection please know that a set of these tools listed below (that we just unboxed) have been added to the studio set of tools kept on hand for studio usage and their use is included as part of your studio experience.

Deja’ Views View-Lers* rulers by C-Thru
 These unique border rulers come in several patterns and each measure 12” x 1.5”. 

Deja View View-LERS at HELEN'S

Deja View Journaling templates at HELEN'S

These tools for creative photo-archiving and scrapbooking are very portable and help you not worry about journaling on a straight line, you can make them curvy if you want! Have Fun! Again, the purpose is to encourage and help you jot down remarks and warm memories to go along with your photos.

They are great tools for laying out, cropping and decorating your treasured photographs to create memorable, hand crafted albums.
Journaling #1 (PA-345)
Journaling #2 (PA-350)

Link to C Thru Ruler select Deja View, and click on DV Templates, scroll down and see two journaling templates.

Fiskars Edgers
With Fiskars think quality decorative scrapbooking scissors.  What Helen likes about these photographed at her scrapbooking studio today is how these fit nicely in your hands and if you are of a certain age your hands know how nice it is to use tools that don’t cause them to ache, something some of us didn’t have to think about when younger!

Photo taken today of Fiskar Edgers at HELEN'S

Fiskars shown in photo (left to right):
soft eggplant color Arabian Paper Edger (9177)
soft purple color Majestic Paper edger (9216)
soft mustard color Scallop Paper edger (9201)
soft rose color Pinking Paper edger  (9200)
soft lilac (almost periwinkle) color Clouds Paper edger (9214)

To see these and more decorative scissors at Fiskars <-click there!

 

 
Each of these items will get added to HELEN’S on-line store.

In conclusion, whether you are new to scrapbooking or a seasoned scrapper you can have fun using some simple, portable, quick & efficient tools to use for your scrapbooking passion without breaking the bank!   

In our next blog we will continue unboxing the new arrivals at the studio that we want to share with each of you. 

Until next time,

Cuddy & Helen 
Cuddy has enjoyed his first year of scrapbooking exposure and is currently working on updating his dog album that Helen created for him.

Helen Rittersporn has over fifteen years scrapbooking experience and has completed over 38 scrapbook albums.  Helen’s Scrapbooking Studio & More opened March 2009.  In addition to being a brick-and-mortar store in North Carolina, her online store is open 24×7.

Unboxing New Arrivals of Scrapbooking Tools at HELEN’S today is a post from: Cuddy's Corner

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Me & My Bicycle 

Mention certain words and they evoke memories instantly associated with the word.  At the mention of Neil Armstrong you will pause and remember where you were on that July day in 1969.

When I think back to summer memories I immediately recall my high handle bar bicycle and my many rides on it down a big challenging hill over one summer.   This bicycle was of pre-10 speed era, I don’t think it even had three speeds.   I was either 11 or 12 years old at the time and the bicycle had a gorgeous high rise handlebar bicycle – that is still how I would describe it.  We lived on the top of a really big hill and I figured out that if I started my ride at a certain spot I could really get my speed up and then to my delight put my feet up onto the handle bar while seated (and flying down the road) with my arms extended fully out on my sides.  It was as close to flying (better than my supergirl episode at around age seven from the top bunk bed which was more shortly lived I might add!). 

So there I was flying down the road full speed with my arms extended, feet up on the handlebars, smiling I might add, and THEN my bike hit a small rock that was on the pavement, this happened at the same time I had not anticipated braking so I ran into the split-rail fence in the cul-de-sac which flung me over the split-rail fence and I landed into the pine straw.  When I gained consciousness my first response was ‘where is my bike, is it okay, and then did I skin my toes, my knees?’ As this was my adventure you would think someone flying off their bicycle would be hurt, upset, sad, but au contraire I emerged with sheer joy on my face and calculating what my next ride would be like and how to avoid the rock in the road the next time while flying down the road on my bicycle!

Do I even have a photo of my beloved high handlebars bicycle ? no, but I’m inspired writing this blog to add this story using a good journaling pen into my scrapbook and sketch out my route and include a photo of me at around that time in my life.  And I’ll enjoy a good telephone call with my Dad actually confessing to him that I would make these rides down the hill.  What is truly amazing is that I was able to do this when there were no cars anywhere around and I must pause here and give this disclaimer to any one reading to not try this yourself!   So when I do talk with Dad and tell him about these episodes I fully anticipate getting a “good talking to for being so stupid!”   So wish me luck!

On my scrapbook page I’ll caption it Me & My Bicycle.  Of course with today’s technology I can create with my cricut and cricut design studio software a spiffy title and dress up the page, but even plain and with just journaling the story will resonate and be cherished.   

My page will recall that Neil Armstrong had landed on the moon the previous summer (or two before) and I will recall hearing in the distance music playing on the radio from a neighbors house through their screen door – the music was popular to this then eleven/twelve year old as it was the music of David Cassidy of Partridge Family fame playing on that distant radio.   It is ‘close enough’ that I recall it was either summer of 1970 or 1971 and there I was out riding my bicycle down the hill and repeatedly flying over the split-railings fence in the cul-de-sac!  

What are your fond summer memories of your childhood?  Do you have it journaled and included in your scrapbook about yourself?  Do you have a scrapbook about you ?  I have one which I call my “All About Me Album” and even had ME ME ME ME ME imprinted across the front of the album!   Even if you have no photos to include of an event you can still honor your memories.
 
That same feeling of sheer joyness of riding down the road on my bicycle have been the feelings of joy I have had these past five months since the initial concept through opening HELEN’S (brick and mortar) and with getting my web site professionally designed and launched.  This time though I have looked ahead and am on the lookout to avoid running into any split-rail fences!    It is such fun to have Cuddy at the studio.  Each day brings in new and seasoned scrapbookers to the studio and seeing their relief as they get unstuck and through the process and leave with their project outlined and a plan in place to get their album(s) completed brings great joy! 

HELEN’S new website launched two weeks ago and I have been truly blessed with my website design team.  This week the online store went live and it was so much fun receiving my first online order!  

In getting the mechanics of twitter, and facebook set up and reading and listening to what is ‘out there’ what has come through to me for this blog, for my website, is to be authentic - be myself - and actually to have something to say. 

Marc Fuller writes in his article “The Marketing Power of Beauty and Soul”:  “You need more than just a business identity, you need to share your business soul. For a small business to quickly power up to a successful internet marketing presence they must be able to present both beauty and soul. It needs to be more than just a pretty picture. It needs to be sharing a “conversation” with its website visitors and prospective customers from the first impression. No matter how good the “optics” of your site are you, your site and presence must have a conversation to reveal your soul. Balance.”    Well done Marc, excellent article!

So plan on paws-ing (that’s Cuddy’s influence) at this blog and enjoy catching up on Life at Helen’s Scrapbooking Studio & More.  And on this very early Sunday morning or later today when you are reading this see if you can pull up a chair and take ten minutes to jot down a fun memory from your summers of previous years and then plan to get it into your album!  

Cuddy has just gotten through approving this posting and asked me if there are any doggy jogger bicycles out there that he could try this same method – he wants to put his front paws up on the handlebar, I showed him the disclaimer above and for now we’ll stick to walking! 

Wishing you a fun rest of the weekend!

Best, Helen
(and a wanting-to-get-his-own-bicycle-now Cuddy!)

Recalling Summer Memories is a post from: Cuddy's Corner

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