Layouts galore!

Since we were lucky enough to get three full days of scrapbooking this weekend, I had a chance to conquer something I've been wanting to do...an album about my store.  I've been collecting pictures for five years, just waiting to finally put 'em all in a book, and well...now seems like a pretty good time right? Ya know, before I forget all the details and people.

So, I worked on this sucker most of the weekend. I lazied out and took photos of the layouts instead of scanning, so the quality is less than perfect. Check 'em out...ya never know who you might see!

This first one's about my first day of business...Kristine (my faithful photographer) even thought to take a pic of the date/time on the alarm system...cool huh? Our first day consisted of lots of rearranging and adding on, since I bought the store from someone else, I wanted to make it more my style.  Look, there's Big Dave sawing away on something or other...boy, he had NO idea of what he was getting himself into!  ;)

Here's our second location...over on the side of Piccadilly Square. Ah, those were the days of $2000 rent and low utilities.  I totally should've stayed in that spot, but oooh nooo, I had to get ants in my pants and move into my third location...the front of Piccadilly...home of $3600 rent, yikes!

I loved this store...oh man, now THAT was a store! 

Remember Scrapalatte?  That was our first major all day crop...wow! Which then led me to want to do something bigger and better...

Camp Scrap S'more!

The garage/yard sales were fun too eh?

Sometimes we had 'employees only crops' they were always sure to be fun!

When I decided that it was no fun going broke trying to pay monster rent, we moved the store to White Bluff Center...before we moved we had to paint...

(Can you believe I put that scary 'children of the corn' lookin' die cut girl on this layout?? Ha! I couldn't resist!  I've been holding her for about seven years...the copyright date on the back says 2001...yikes!)

Shortly after we moved to White Bluff Center...our little mascot duck went missing.  Not that I care too much, after all he was pretty annoying, but the mystery still lingers.  ANYBODY wanna fess up yet? eh hem...AMANDA!!  ;)

Our final move...thank God! This was by far the best move, because we knew we wouldn't have to do it again.  ;) Big Dave was a happy boy!

Check this one out...it's Kristine and I on my first day of biz and my last...five years is a long time for her to put up with my craziness, but she never ran away! 

I sure did teach a lot of classes...those were some great memories! And speaking of memories, we sure do have some hilarious ones.  There's a whole lot of silliness goin' on...

Some of my favorite memories are of the adventures Kristine and I had at trade shows and special events like this one (below.) If you spent more than $17,000 in a year with EK Success, you'd get invited to an all expenses paid scrap weekend. Totally cool!  We did it a couple of times, and loved every minute of it.

And sometimes we were lucky enough to rub elbows with the uber talented scrapbook celebs...

So all in all, owning my store was a cool experience, but it was definitely a love/hate thing...

And as for that bounced check...I've never been paid for it, or about three others totaling over two hundred bucks.  Oh well, doesn't look like I'll be seein' that moolah huh?

I have three or four more layouts to complete, but I didn't get the rest of my photos developed in time to take 'em with me last weekend.  So I guess I'll be working on those the next time I scrap.  And I've still got a bunch more layouts from this weekend to share, but I'll save them for this weekend.  ;) 

Alrighty, off to eat some squash casserole...I think it's done cooking, YUM!!

Comments

[Michelle]

Hey, whatever happened to the duck???

[Michelle]

Hey, whatever happened to the duck???

[Roxann]

Oh...I'm so feelin' the LOVE!!! Love ya, too! XOXO!

[Amanda]

Check my myspace pictures Jamie..I am sure there are things to be observed....ya know the pure genious behind that wasn't just my own....The Big guy was in on it as well.

[VickieK]

What beautiful memories!!

[Cecile Maner]

We miss you and the store Jamie!

[Sherry]

Wow, I love all of them, what a great idea!!!!

[lynn whelan]

Amanda! I think I remember Jamie suspecting you!!!

Jamie, I am so proud of you getting that album done. I wish I could have had at least one ounce of a gene like that. sigh

I am also proud to have been a part of your whole experience. Those layouts bring a huge smile to my face and a sense of sadness, all at the same time. Something tells me there may be more that you never let the public see!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Michelle]

But seriously, where is the duck now? I don't remember packing it up in the office. Is he ok?

[Sid]

What a wonderful ride, J. You were a good storekeeper, too. Why a duck? Why not!