Wednesday Wrap-Up

I've got a lot for today's post. I have some store photos, product photos, updates, a Kindness Request and more! First, I have today's Facebook Live Video HERE.

I have a Kindness Card request. Robert is a customer to the store and has had a very challenging recovery from a very serious illness. He could really use some good thoughts.

Robert Jones

C/O Specialty Hospital

252 W 11th Street

Room 220

Erie, PA 16501

There are still kits available for the next Maker Mania.  Sharon has been getting a lot of questions about exactly how this works and what exactly is Maker Mania. Let me see if I can help.

Maker Mania 101

Maker Mania was created by a consortium of stamp and scrapbook stores around the US and Canada called Crafter's Home. This group enables small, retail stores like Buffalo Stamps and Stuff to purchase product at a lower cost because it can purchase product in bulk. In addition, they provide tutorials from the manufacturers along with technique ideas that stores pass on to their customers - like Maker Mania.

For each Maker Mania a box is created containing a variety of product including a paper collection, a stamp/stamp set, a die/die set, an embossing folder, and a coloring medium. There are other assorted products included but not limited to ephemera, a mixed media component, die cuts, rub-ons, etc. The box is a surprise, customers do not know what manufacturers supplied the contents ahead of time. The cost of the box is $99 and includes admission to the Maker Mania Weekend on-line.

Each store is responsible for creating a minimum of three projects using the contents of the box and illustrating a technique with these products in their presentation. Each store gives a 15 minute introduction of their store, their story and quick, very quick sneak peek about two weeks before the scheduled weekend of Maker Mania. On the weekend of the event, starting on Friday, the stores, one at a time, deliver a 90 minute presentation of their projects and the technique they are featuring. The presentations begin on Friday and go through Sunday. All of the presentations are done in a closed Facebook group. 

Customers who buy the box get directions and a code that gives them access to the group. Via the group announcements are posted, supply lists are listed, the schedule of store presentations is listed and at the end of the weekend instructions for all the projects are posted for the group. You are able to view, review and download any or all of the presentations whenever you like. This is great for customers who can't watch every presentation live. You can go back a week, a month later and watch any or all of the presentations.

Presentations - The box is designed to provide you with plenty of product to do whatever projects you want. NOTE: You cannot do every project you will see or be able to 'create along with the presentation' however, you will be able to do LOTS of cards, layouts and paper projects that are shown or that you create on your own from the inspiration you get from the presentations with the product in your box. Each store will show how they created at least one of their projects during their 90 presentation slot and remember, you will get access to instructions for every card, layout and project shown through out the weekend for you to view, print out or download at your convenience.

Your home store will, in most cases, have additional supplies of the product that you will be able to purchase after the event. Instructions for all the projects will be posted to the group so that you can choose what you want to do and accomplish at your own pace.

HERE"S THE BIGGIE... You have to be on Facebook to take part in this event. It does not commit you to fully participate in Facebook on any kind of regular basis, or cost you anything to join Facebook. For those who do not wish to have a Facebook presence, you can join as a private person, without giving any personal information. You are just using FB as a vehicle to access this event. If you have any questions about Maker Mania, please feel free to ask me in the comments section of this blog. I've attended the last three MM's and have seen many if not all of the presentations.

On to something new - HOLIDAY STAMP CAMP is back! Sharon is working on HolidayStamp Camp and sign-ups are posted. Give the store a call. Sharon will be doing in-store Stamp Camp as well as ZOOM Stamp Camp. Here are the dates:

                                               Sat. Oct. 30th 10-3 (in-store)
                                            Mon. Nov. 1st 10-2:30 (in-store)
                                           Tues. Nov. 2nd 10-2:30 (in-store)

                                                Sun. Nov. 7th 12-3 (ZOOM)

I visited the store on Tuesday and took a few photos from around the store. From the first display as you walk in, Sharon's decorations. (The store looked really good!)

We re-arranged the Pion display. We wanted to showcase the Spellbinders dies Sharon uses so often with her Pion cards.

                               

Just a reminder, we have pre-made cards for sale.

I included this handy dandy little sewing machine. Sharon used stitching in her latest Maker Mania projects and this is the machine she recommended.

The Fall display of Honey Bee 

I love this box card, couldn't resist.

Card samples along the front counter

Spellbinders 3-D flower dies and more!

Gorgeous papers!

Two funnies for today. The first is truly me... The second is just stupid funny

That's it for me today.  I really enjoyed Kim's first post and her card and I'm looking forward to many more. I will do an additional post tomorrow as I just received new product photos and have to switch computers to be able to show them to you. Have a crafty good week and I'll see you again after Saturday's FB live. Stay Safe everyone!