The 3/50 Project! Pick 3. Spend $50. Save your local community!

**All it takes is just one person to start a trend...will that person be you?

When you think of the community that you live and shop in, there are 3 very important things you need to consider.

1) What 3 independently owned businesses would you miss if they disappeared?
Is it us - Scrapbooks Too? What about your mom n' pop grocery store that you "just run into" occasionally for those last minute items? How about the cute little clothing boutique where you bought your favorite outfit? Or the cool little pet supply store on the corner where you got those awesome toys that your animals just adore?

2) Did you know if half the employed population spent $50 each month in locally owned independent businesses, it would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue. Imagine the positive impact if 3/4 the employed population did that!

3) Are you aware that for every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. If you spend that money in a national chain store, only $43 stays here. If you shop online, nothing comes home!


The 3/50 project idea is to commit $50 each month to locally owned businesses, total. Maybe that means rethinking where you currently invest your money, opting to pick up that birthday card or pair of jeans in a locally owned business instead of the big box you’ve been going to. Or maybe it means eating out just once a month because you realize slamming the brakes on all spending stalls economic recovery. It’s just that simple.

This Project isn’t an “all or nothing” campaign that insists consumers stop shopping in chains or franchises. Instead, the message is about balance-—of the money you currently spend each month. We simply ask you to redirect an affordable $50 back to the locally owned independent businesses that have been forgotten of late. Just as there are things in a locally owned store that you can’t find in a big box, there are also things in a big box you can’t find in a locally owned store. We simply need to think about where our dollars are best invested, consider the greater amount of revenue local businesses return to the community, then purchase accordingly. Otherwise, local economies suffer irreparable harm - as we have seen lately with lots of empty buildings and stories on the news.

For more information, please copy & paste the following link into your web browser:
http://www.the350project.net/home.html

It's Monday! Make a Card for just $1!

LIFE IS SWEET!

And you can really make someone's day with this sweet little cupcake card!

Susan and Amanda really outdid themselves with the cuteness on this one! Done in a fabulous blue/pink background, our smiling and waving,"Hello Cupcake", literally leaps off the page with the help of the T.H. Rosette underneath it!

So easy to make - you can use this for birthday, Valentine's or maybe even to "pop the question"!!!

All proceeds benefit VEAP - and yes, you can make extra cards for $1 each!

(please bring your favorite adhesive to this event)

*Hot Buys* This Week!

"So Sophie" Grab Bags from My Minds Eye - only $7.99 or $8.49! Sue put together some fantastic grab bags - there are paper, stickers and other fun stuff. "So Sophie" is made up of 4 different collections - "Charming", "Clever", "Graceful" and "Savvy"! These grab bags would normally retail for $20.00 but you can take one or two home for only $7.99 or $8.49. Shop early for best selection of course! (Note from Sue---I snuck in some $4.99 collections, too!) *Here is a link to see the different collections: http://www.mymindseye.com/SS/021-SS-Line.asp ***************************************** Martha Stewart Halloween & Christmas Paper Punches - 75% OFF! Yes, you read that correctly! Come get "bats in your belfry", "cauldrons in your kitchen" and do a little "hauntin' through a scary graveyard" (complete with requisite raven) - these are just some of the spooky delights that await you! But wait...there's more! You can also "deck the halls" with ornaments and wreathes and if you didn't get enough of gift-giving - there is a cool little gift punch that you just oughta have! Get back into the spirit of the holidays and stock up for next year! These will go QUICKLY---so grab 'em while you can!

INTRODUCING the 9 new Stickles from Ranger!

These amazing new colors are incredibly vibrant and beautiful, and they are sure to become some of your favorites! (And yes, I already bought every single gorgeous glittery color!!)

Here they are in all their glory - from left to right - as shown in the picture:
Tropical Tangerine
True Blue
Firefly
Midnight Blue
Paprika
Thistle
Mystic Green
Lagoon
Glam Pink

At only $2.00 per bottle you can let your art "sparkle" with this acid free glitter glue! Easily write, dot, dash, draw and embellish on paper and rubber stamping projects, candles, memory album covers and more! WOOT!

Limited Edition Valentine Card Kit - Designed by Amanda!

Limited Edition Valentine Card Kit - Designed by Amanda!

You probably don't know that Amanda is our "best kept creative secret". Alot of kits and other fun things you see in SB2 have been designed by this talented young lady!

This Valentine Card Kit is no exception! For only $10 you can easily assemble 6 fantastic cards!!

Now, I was looking at these and with just a little "tweaking" (and no big amount of creative thought needed thank goodness) these cards could easily be transformed into Anniversary, Wedding or even a "just because I care" card for your best friend!

Grab a kit today and streamline your card-making - leaving more time for YOU!

5 for $5 Saturday, Jan 29th

We know that the end of January can be dreary, cold and boring so we decided to spice it up a little and host another 5 for $5 Saturday.

On Saturday, January 29th come on over to Scrapbook Too from 11am-3pm and make 5 terrific cards! June designed them so you know they are just as cool as can be!!

(please bring your favorite adhesive to this event)

Accordion Fold Technique

Wednesday, January 19th (12pm-7pm)
- Accordion Fold Technique $5
(bring a strong adhesive)

Today (1/17) - Veap Make a Card Monday $1

Just a reminder that the garage sales is NEXT WEEKEND - Friday, January 21st, Saturday, January 22nd and Sunday, January 23rd.

We still have spaces left in our "roster" of 80 sellers so if you want to participate I suggest you get your labels soon!

Buy a set of 60 labels for $10, gather up your cast-off treasures, price them, and drop your things off at the store on Tuesday, January 18th (all day), Wednesday, January 19th (all day) or Thursday, January 20th (only until 5pm).

If you don't want your items to go to half price (Sunday) OR if you don't want them to be donated when the sale is done (Monday) - you are responsible for picking them up on Saturday, January 22nd, BEFORE 6PM (we lock the doors right at 6pm) or BEFORE 5PM on Sunday, January 23rd (we'll be locking up at 5pm).

AFTER FEBRUARY 2nd - gift certificates will be available. (Please do not call or stop in before then - it's a big accounting project to make sure everyone is paid correctly). Woohoo!

Buyers: The Early Bird sale starts Friday, January 21st at 6pm. Unless it is snowing like crazy, or freezing cold, we will NOT be issuing numbers, so just come and line on up!

Admission to this event is a $10 donation to The City of Lakes Sweet Adelines Chorus Young Singers Fund AND a bag of groceries or toiletries for VEAP

On Saturday, we will open promptly at 10am. Again, no numbers unless it is snowing or freezing cold. Sunday - half price day - we will open promptly at Noon. Same deal on the numbers.

SUNDAY (9/19) - AWESOME HAPPENINGS!

First off - All day on Sunday (FOR $2.00) you can come over to SB2 and make Sample Boards of all the cool products listed below. Each board is $2.00 (Cash please) and this donation actually goes to our local VEAP!

Distress Inks
Stickles
Ranger Adirondack Paint Dabbers
Distress Stickles
Memento Inks

I am putting my sample boards in a 3-ring binder. These are awesome to have!! I can pull the sample board out and look at the colors quickly and easily versus sorting through my craft drawers looking for just the right color of something!

**THEN**
We have Nonnie's spectacular Alcohol Inks w/A Twist of Autumn Class from 12pm-2pm ($25). THESE ARE JUST FABULOUS!!! My name was first on the list for this class! WOW!!!! The samples say it all!!!!!!

**RIGHT AFTER THAT**
We have a new instructor, Rhonda, who is just not quite ready to let summer go and has created 4 wonderful cards that include a googly-eyed owl, kite, pinwheel and a sun. These cards would be perfect for anyone...even that hard to find a card for, male in your life. All of these were so cute I had to sign myself up for this class too!!!! 3pm-5pm ($25)