Venturing into the Online World

Back in December I said I was going to start venturing out into the online world.  I thought I would share my journey with you because it’s all a learning opportunity and you may be able to share your experiences with me.

My first stop on this adventure is to look at what shopping directories are available that cater towards the Australian market.  When I did a google search, I discovered there were many, actually too many to explore all at once.

Here are some that I am exploring further:-

• Hooked On Shopping I found while reading The Tall Poppy blog and now have a listing under the Craft section.
• Aussie Shopping List and I have listed here as well.
• Shop Safe is an interesting concept.
• The Bub Hub was a directory I found but definitely wouldn’t have thought to promote my business.

Can you recommend a shopping directory that has worked for you?  If so, I would love to hear your feedback.

Happy Scrapbooking!

Appreciating Life

After such a devastating week with floods in Queensland and bush fires in Victoria, I sat back on the weekend and counted my blessings.

My children may test me, challenge me and some days question my every decision but they are still here with me, unlike many people who lost their children, family and friends in the bush fires.  I cannot imagine what the survivors of the bush fires and floods are feeling.  I cannot imagine being able to move forward amongst such destruction.  I cannot imagine the challenges that these people face to rebuild their lives.

Reflecting on this week has made me appreciate my life even more.  I am empowered by the wonderful support people have offered me during some recent personal challenges.  I can only imagine how the victims of the floods and bush fires are feeling with a whole nation supporting them.

If you would like to help you can do so by donating money, clothes, food, your time or your blood.  While searching the Internet for ways of helping I came across the article, Victorian Bushfires - How You Can Help and if you would like to help the flood victims, please contact your local Red Cross or Salvation Army.

Stay safe and take the time to count your blessings!

Business Vision Board

At the beginning of the year I mentioned that Nicole, my business coach had me ‘visioning’ my future, now she has me scrapbooking what my business will look and feel like in the future.  She calls this my ‘Business Vision Board’ and has asked me to put my words into images.  Instead of using photos, Nicole suggests using a combination of photos, images from magazine and inspring words that can be created using stamps, printed or cut out from a magazine.

The aim of the vision board is to help me not only envision my future, but feel it as well.  I’ll definitely share it with you once I’m finished.

Once I’ve created my vision board, the next step is to create a ‘Vision Statement’ similiar to what Korina at Joliv has about her business.  In her blog post Who is Joliv? she is clear and concise about her service, products and business commitment.  This is my aim… to have a vision statement on my website that describes the uniqueness my business so that everyone feels part of the Assential Scrapbooking family.

Happy Scrapbooking!

Our Scrapbooking Outlet

For all my online readers who are not based in Brisbane, you only ever get to see my online store so today I thought I’d show you Assential Scrapbooking’s retail outlet.  We’ve got a great space, north of Brisbane in a quiet rural area.  It is full equipped with all your scrapbooking needs. 

This is our paper and ribbon wall.

This is where you will find an assortment of albums and embellishments.

I offer a range of stickers, rub on and overlays.

We offer a range of classes, shop and crop nights as well as creative workshops such as girl’s nights, birthday parties and home presentations, where we come to you.  Our scrap area can cater up to 8 people.

If you are ever in the area please do call and say hi.  If the shop is open, we would love for you to drop by.  If you know you’re heading this way, we can organise to have coffee and show you through the retail outlet.

Happy Scrapbooking!

Having Fun

While reading Heart Harmony’s blog post about putting the fun back into things, I realised that I need to say… Scrapbooking is about FUN!

Not only is it about fun, it is also about capturing treasured memories in a creative way. When you start out it can be a little bit daunting and you might want to compare yourself to other people, but the thing about scrapbooking is it is about you and your special moments.  Each person is different with different tastes and different styles.

Don’t get hung up on what others do.  It is your creative time… enjoy the moment, allow your creativity to blossom and remember the happy times that your photos represent.

If you make a mistake, use it as a learning curve rather than putting yourself down.  Scrapbooking allows you to evolve, to develop and to be creative.  Have fun with it!

Happy Scrapbooking!

Create 2008 with Heidi Swapp

With Christmas and New Year I forgot to tell you about my night out with the well known and published scrapbooker, Heidi Swapp.  Early December I attended her Create 2008 event with another scrapbook business owner and friend from Bundaberg, Queensland.

I had such a blast.  The evening started at 6:00pm with an introduction from Heidi.  She told us more about herself and her career.  Then came the opportunity to get our hands dirty - we created a banner using some of Heidi’s products (the banner is above).  That was the fun part and getting to see what everyone else created.

Heidi shared with us tips on inking, how to use some of her products and told us about her upcoming products.  A fantastic night was had by all.  I look forward to using some of the new techniques I’ve learnt and sharing them with you in the future.

Happy Scrapbooking!

Birthday Parties

Did you know Assential Scrapbooking hold’s
creative workshops for children’s birthday parties?

Scrapbooking birthday parties are a unique party idea, and for a creative kid, what could be more fun than a scrapbooking or off-the-page creative party.

Most of the parties we held last year were for 8 and 9 years old girls.  Each party I design specifically for the birthday girl and, based on the age and skills of the girls.

The benefit of these types of parties is that everyone attending gets to use their skills, creativity and imagination to create something she’s not only proud of, but she can keep forever.

Feel free to call me if you would like to talk further about holding a scrapbooking or off-the-page project party for your child’s birthday.

Here are some photos from our last party of 2009.

Happy Scrapbooking! 

Welcome 2009

Happy New Year!  I have been looking forward to the new year because there are so many new possibilities ahead of me.  I hope that 2009 brings you lots of new experiences, new opportunities and new friends.

I have begun the year visioning the future of my business.  Nicole, my business coach suggested that I take some time out to imagine myself and my business, 12 months in the future.  This ’visioning’ is new to me so at first I was a little hesitant but once I got into writing down what I saw, I really enjoyed myself.

So what do I see in my future?

• My online scrapbooking store has become one of the most popular stores in Australia
• My blog has up to 200 hits per day
• The Assential Scrapbooking team expands with 4 others joining me
• We move into a large, more exquisite retail store
• We have a coffee shop attached to the store and my mum makes the cakes for the shop
• We have a children’s area that all the mum’s love
• We hold 4 to 5 classes per week
• The scrapbook retail store is as successful as our online store

 I hope you join me in this journey.  I’ll be announcing some exciting this for the blog next week so stay tuned.  In the meantime, happy scrapping.

Moving Forward

As a business owner and a mother of three active boys I’ve decided that as we move from 2008 into 2009 that I’m not going to worry about the blog posts I didn’t write while I was running my business, being taxi mum, washing mum, cleaning mum, homework mum, cooking mum and all those other things we do as mums.

Instead, I’m going to focus on the wonderful things in my life such as my customers that have continued to support my business and myself - thank you!  My family and friends who have been supportive of my endeavours - thank you!  My three boys that are all so different from each other, yet so amazingly supportive of each other.  As I move into a new year, I’m going to spend some time reflecting on my personal and professional achievements.

2009 is a new year; a new beginning… there is a lot happening in 2009, the year of many possibilities.

My business coach, Nicole suggests I venture out into the online world and after reading about Site’s to Sell and Network In, over at Under the Loupe, Annette has provided me with some interesting sites to start my adventures.

I look forward to sharing with you my journey into the online world and with scrapbooking. I hope that you will be inspired to get creative and start or continue with scrapbooking.

I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

I’m Back

Hi Everyone, just wanted to check in and let you know I am back from my Annual Leave.

The family and I had a fantastic time.  In my last post I mentioned I would be taking lots of pictures… I did and after deleting the ones I could, I have ended up with well over 500 photos!

Oh my goodness… how will I ever scrap all of these, I think I need to do some investigating on what others do with so many picture’s and get back to you.