New Happenings at the Cottage

We have added two more teachers to our staff!  Things are popping at the Cottage and you don't want to miss out!  In addition to Jackie, Susan Thompson and Lisa Jameson have joined out team.  There are lots of cool classes coming your way and you don't want to miss any of them.  Remember that next Wednesday is Easter cards with Jackie and you must call to sign up and reserve a seat if you want to get in to this class.  The photo is listed in the post below.  Absolutely adorable!! 

Easter with Jackie - Adorable!

We have a new teacher with us!!  Jackie Waebel is going to be offering classes each month!  She will be joining a team of extrememly talented teachers who truly want to share their love of paper crafts with everyone they meet.  Jackie has been a Stampin' Up demonstrator for a very long time.  She will bring her love of stamping and all things paper to YOUR Stamping Cottage beginning the first week of April! 

Call the shop and sign up for Stamping with Jackie on April 4th.  For YOUR convenience, she's offering the class shown here at 12:30 and 6:30 for only $15.00!  And don't forget, next Saturday, the 24th of March, Lisa will be sharing her love of stamping with the adorable Easter cards below.  There is no reason for you not to send out Easter cards this year, as I will be having my Easter card class on March 29th!  YOU ask and YOUR Stamping Cottage will do everything we can to deliver!! Call me and get in these classes asap, before there's no more room! 

While YOU'RE here, online, don't forget to check us out on YELP.com and "like" us on Facebook!  YOUR Stamping Cottage can be found in many places, YOU should be found at YOUR Stamping Cottage !! 

Happy St. Patrick's Day this Saturday!

Make plans now to head down to Historic Bellevue and stroll the avenue this Saturday and celebrate St. Patrick's Day!  From 11 until 5 you can scour the Avenue for one of three pots of gold located in three of the shops on the Avenue. 

Discreetly let the shop owner know you found it and your name will be entered  to win $75.00 in Bellevue Bucks which can be used at any of the participating shops or restaurants on the Avenue.  If you find all three pots of gold, then your chances are increased to win the $75.00 Bellevue Bucks.  The shops will have clues as to where you'll find the pots of gold, so visit all of  the participating businesses to make it easier to find them.  From the 200 block to the 700 block, you never know where your luck will happen! (even if you're not Irish)  Be sure to wear green and get 10% off all new items in Your Stamping Cottage as well as some of the other businesses on the Avenue!

Easter Cards with Lisa

Color Me Happy by Lisa Henke

Lisa has done it again!  Join her on Saturday, March 24th at 3:00 and make three Easter cards.  Here are two of them.  These are awesome!  Lisa will be using My Favorite Things, Unity and Cats Pajamas.  Lisa is extremely talented and if you haven't taken one of her classes you don't know what you're missing.  Call the shop and sign up!

Some bunny loves you by Lisa Henke

Inside of Some bunny loves you by Lisa

A Beautiful Day

Bakers Dozen Sympathy Card
(outside)

What a gorgeous day it was today!  Many friends stopping by the shop and browsing.  Flowers, flowers, flowers everywhere!  The classroom shelves are full of them.  I'm anxious for spring and ready for all the colors that come with it.   There are lots of classes on the calendar below.  Check it out and sign up soon.  The Dirty Dozen filled up immediately and I have scheduled a second one on the 22nd.  Call the shop and sign up!

Now for something totally personal...my oldest daughter and her husband are expecting!  I'm so excited!  Our first grandchild!  I ask for prayers for her and the baby...for a safe, healthy pregnancy and birth.  I'm so glad I have you to share this with.  Life is wonderful!  See you at the shop!

Happy Leap Year!

So today is Leap Year Day?  I'm not sure what to call it other than the 29th of February, lol.  All NEW product in the shop is 29% off today in honor of this special day that only comes around every 4 years.  Flower stamps are being put on the shelves as well as St. Patrick's Day, April Fool's Day and Easter.

I do love peacocks!!!

On a side note, Bev has shamed me into promising to blog at least once a week.  Ya'll know I want to, but sometimes life just gets in the way.  I can write as much as I talk (and you know that's a lot, lol), but taking the pictures and getting them uploaded to the computer sometimes gets in my way. But not any more!  So hear it is :  I solemly swear that as of today, February 29th 2012, I will blog at least once a week from now on (or at least I'm going to give it a good try).  Happy Leap Year Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope this post finds you thinking about all those that you love and that love you.  It's awesome to have friends and family that we care about and that care about us.  Hopefully, that's how you feel about us at Your Stamping Cottage.  Family.  That's certainly how we feel about you!

 I have a treat to show you!  Someone has consigned this awesome tote on wheels along with a really cool storage box for your markers, ephemera, or tools.  This is in perfect condition and I do have more pictures that I can send you if you're interested.

 This would be a great gift for someone who is starting out and needs storage space.  It would be awesome for the person who has been crafting for a while and needs some new storage items.  I LOVE this pattern!  The rolling tote and the lining of the storage chest are the same pattern.  We're asking $40.00 for the tote and $20.00 for the chest.  HOWEVER, if you would like both, (and who wouldn't, since they are a matched set), she's willing to sell them for $50.00!  That's a $10.00 savings!  I can tell you, you can't get these for that price anywhere else.  Even with 40% off coupons.  These are not in the shop due to space restraints, however, if you're interested I can have her bring them in for your inspection.  Pictures really don't do these justice.  You have to see them to appreciate them.    In the mean time, Happy Valentine's Day!!

Home Again!

What a wonderful time I had with my girls as we celebrated their 25th and 24th birthdays together!  I've never had "empty nest syndrom", but there are time when I really miss them.  Hard to believe that Justin will be gone in August!  Paul and I are looking forward to the time alone, but how weird it will be.  Oh well, just more time for STAMPING!!!

I will be re-opening the shop today.  Hopefully illness and I know traveling are out of the way for a while.  January is always a downer for me.  I suppose it's the holidays being over.  But February always makes me smile!  Love is in the air.  I have the most amazing husband; the most awesome children (even with all their drama, lol); and the most wonderful friends, students, customers, a person could ever hope for!!! 

As February comes flying in on the wings of a songbird, literally, (where the heck was winter?), let's make a pledge to see each other and have some fun!  You know where to find me :)

I'm Out of Town...

Just a few for your choosing!

I'll be back to open the shop toward the end of the week.  I'll post and let you know when the shop reopens.  Don't forget that this Friday is First Friday on the Avenue.  We'll be celebrating the Oscars!!  Don't miss it!

Shop Closed Today

I apologize for the inconvenience, but the shop is closed today, January 25th due to illness.

Chicken Scratch

Joyce's Chicken Scratch

Joyce has done it again!  Tuesday evening, January 24th @ 6:30 she will be teaching us the art of "chicken scratch".  This is a beautiful Valentine for anyone in your heart.  For only $15.00 she will walk you through this wonderful technique and give you two more patterns for your enjoyment!  Call to sign up today. 

If you can't make Tuesday evening, she will be offering this again on Wednesday, February 1st @ 12:30 p.m.  Don't miss this one!

Terri's Box for All Occasions

The shop reopens tomorrow after a wonderful winter vacation.       I can't wait to see everyone!  And look at one of the classes coming up!  Terri's Box for All Occasions. 
At 6:30 on January 18th, for only $25.00 you will make this awesome box and all the stuff to fill it up.  This has a Valentine theme, but Terri will show you have you can change it up for any occasion.  Just think, birthdays, anniversaries, showers, the list is endless.  So call and sign up right away because you don't want to miss this one!  Don't forget, Terri always throws in a little extra something for you.

You never know...

     For the past 2 1/2 days I have been cleaning my office.  This is not my studio, but my office which is in one of the bedrooms.  This is also where I do my altered art.  So...it took all this time to clean it because I had really not done any work in there for quite a while and let's just say it had gotten out of control. (That's putting it mildly)  This afternoon, I sat down at my desktop computer (which I haven't used in months) and was so pleased that my desk was clean, the floor was clean, drawers were labeled, (you get the idea), that I decided to go online.  Now let me ask you a question.  Have you ever googled yourself?  Me either.  But for some reason, I decided to google C-Shore Creations and Your Stamping Cottage.  I was really surprised by what I found.  There are two amazing comments about Your Stamping Cottage on YELP.com and one amazing comment for C-Shore Creations on Yellowbook.com. 
     Now for those of you who don't know, my shop was originally called C-Shore Creations, inc. I then filed papers with the state changing the name to C-Shore Creations, inc dba Your Stamping Cottage.  Thus two names. 
     I knew you could comment on businesses on YELP, but didn't know about Yellowbook.  The following is what I found on www.yellowbook.com through google.

"Great Place and Customer Service
by Mia R
I went to Bellevue earlier this week looking for keepsake gifts for a bachelorette party I'm throwing. They have a couple of cute and unique shops that you can use for everyday gifts or use, but not quite what I was looking for. The more I walked down the street, I came upon Crone Cottage/C-Shore Creations. I walked in and Mrs. Ramona (C-shore Creations) couldn't have been more helpful. She was an absolute delightful lady. I told her my idea of what I was looking for and her assistance was remarkable. She also showed me the store in the back (Crone Cottage), which has cute and unique gifts, but not what I was looking for. Me and Mrs. Ramona sat down and talked; she gave me ideas on how to create my gift on my own and what materials and products I needed to buy to achieve it. She also showed me how to write with the paint. Her caring, knowledge, and all around great personality was really appreciated. She is the definition of Customer Service. Unfortunately, I didn't find anything in her store that I needed that day, but the knowledge she gave me for my gift idea was a wealth! The store has many stamps and they specialize in scrapbooking and cards. They even have classes. When I finish my gift creation, I look forward to going back and learning some art with Mrs. Ramona. Thanks C-Shore Creations "

     What's so cool is I remember Mia perfectly.  Adorable.  She came in and we had a great time!  We talked about what they were going to do for the bachelorette party and the wedding and she was a doll. So a word to the wise, always be yourself, 'cause you never know...

Full House

My Conner - 10 years old

 All my kids home for Christmas except my girl in Colorado.   Four of the seven are back home safe and sound tonight. 

Daughter's Lily - 9 months

My Jo Jo - about 7 years old

Daughter's Dante - 2 years old

Son-in-law, daughter and son (missing youngest daughter)

Happy 2012

New Year's Card From 2009

Happy New Year to each and every one of you!  As I sat with the hubby last night talking about 2011 and making plans for 2012, I couldn't help but think about each of you.  Those of you that I see often and those that I only see occasionally.  If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be doing what I love.  So thank you.

I have lots of plans for the coming year and you are at the heart of those plans.  I am going to do my best to post every day of 2012.  The website is under way.  E-mails are starting again.  Please make sure that ramonabonita@fuse.net is in your email address book so that you don't miss out on all the news.  If you don't recieve any e-mails from me, then check here as I will post each week's e-mail on the blog.  That way you'll always be in the loop. 

As always, the shop is YOUR Stamping Cottage.  If there is something that you would like to see or a class you would like to have, please let me know.  All Christmas stamps will be packed away next week.  The shop re-opens on the 10th with a Mouse in the House class.  E-mail me or call my cell phone to sign up for classes while the shop is closed this week.

Life news:  The oldest daughter and her husband were home for a couple of days after Christmas, along with their two dogs.  OMgosh!  We had a wonderful time, but with a total of four dogs running around, to say it was wild is an understatement.  My two dogs are 15 lbs and 50 lbs.  Very docile, laid back, both are older dogs.  Daughter's two dogs are 92 lbs and 25 pounds.  Both VERY active.  The larger is 2 years old, the smaller is 9 months.  My dogs are worn out!  We had a blast though.  We went to the Festival of Lights which I had never done before and made a trip to Knit Happens on Monmouth in Newport.  Daughter thought she had died and gone to Heaven.  I have never seen so much yarn in all my life!  She's self-taught, amazingly talented crocheter (not sure if this is a word), and is now teaching herself to knit.  Son-in-law is making a rug for their porch out of rope.  My son is home for the spring semester while he does his student teaching.  So the trombone will constantly be playing. Youngest daughter is doing great in Colorado, making a life for herself, and staying very busy.  She did say she is getting a tattoo on Tuesday.  Of course that was last night as she was out with friends having drinks, ringing in the New Year.  She knows I am not a fan, but she's an adult, what are you going to do.  She's awesome!  Very strong and determined to make her dreams a reality.   Life is good at the Croushore home and I hope it is at your home as well.  I wish you a healthy and happy New Year.