Whim So Doodle

Christmas in July has started

If you have not heard about Whim So Doodle's CHRISTMAS IN JULY celebration-let me tell you all about it!

Isn't it just a drag running around like a crazy person around the holiday time?  Wouldn't you rather be spending time with family and just plain 'ole enjoying the holiday?  I also know that we crafters love making homemade gifts, so add the stress of finishing your gifts or cards to an already busy schedule and you have some frazzled nerves.  Now add in the fact that this year we are facing tougher economic days and we not only have stretched scheduled but stretched budgets.  BUT...here comes The Doodle's CHRISTMAS IN JULY to the rescue.

Each week we are introducing new project samples (ala Fall Festival) complete with color copies and all the supplies you need to complete the project.  These projects are perfect for gift giving!  Some of the projects will also be holiday home decor.  These are easy and fun to recreate.

Also each Monday we will be introducing a new Christmas themed page kit.  Tons of you have been begging us to bring back our (famous?) page kits and we are listening!  Here is your chance to grab some great layouts to add to your books.

Then each Saturday from 11am-2pm we will be doing make-n-takes.  Each week will be either a small holiday themed project of something perfect for gift giving.

All our classes in the month of July are geared towards holiday layouts, albums and more.  Stacey and I are also doing our Christmas Card Camp where you make 8 holiday cards that are easy to recreate when it is time to start your cards.  Imagine if you got your cards done in July?

We also have our Santa Sittings on July 19th!  Santa will be here in the store spending time with our good boys and girls.  Half hour sessions are $85 and we have only 1-2 spots left.  Santa will be sitting on a dock in his "summer Santa" duds. 

After Santa is finished with his sessions, he will pay a visit to the crop room-we have an all-day Saturday crop on the 19th.  He will be posing for candid with all those of you who are signed up for the Saturday crop.  (Note:  This is not a full, paid session like in the daytime)  Santa will be posing for candid and we'll give you a photo of you and Santa!  So make sure if you've been a naughty girl this year, you make it up and come join us for some great fun on the 19th.   

Each week will post a sneak peek at what will be introduced and highlighted that week!

Just remember: 

-Getting holiday projects done now give you free time to enjoy later on!

-Getting holiday projects done now helps you spread out your holiday gift-giving budget!

-Getting to spend time at The Doodle is cheap therapy for hectic schedules!

Your sneak peek:

This weeks page kit:

This weeks make-n-take:

A very cute key chain made from an acrylic shape and alcohol inks. 

Ho-Ho-Hope to see you soon!

Jen

Kid's Camp is so much fun!

Kristen is doing such a great job running the Kid's Summer Camp classes.  The kids are having a blast and every week Kristen in wiped-out so I know it is going good!  Last week I got to pinch hit for Kristen on Friday and was blown away by the talent these young girls have.  They are what I call "fearless" crafters.  They don't hesitate to add fun stuff and dont' sweat the exact placement of an embellishment-they just go with it and end up with great looking projects, cards, pages and more!  Week 2 they did an entire album called "Summer" and it was so fun!  Here are the girls with their completed albums at the end of camp.  Don't they just look adorable?!

My new Wizzard of Oz!

I remember growing up we didn't have VCRs, TiVo or DVD players.  We had the TV.  That's it.  If you missed a show-too bad.  We never got to watch our favorite movie over and over.  The only show that I remember being repeated every year was The Wizard of Oz.  We had only one TV set and I can clearly remember my dad saying, "We have to watch this show again?  Wasn't it just on?"  Of course we watched it every year and usually Dad would pop the popcorn.  As a kid I was obsessed with The Wizard of Oz and that has carried over to my adulthood ('tho not as "bad" as my friend Ginni!).  I have WOZ fridge magnets, the DVD, have been to Wicked twice (and read the book series!) and even named my cat Elphaba after the Wicked Witch in Wicked. 

Well...I can feel a new obsession coming on!  The movie is HAIRSPRAY!!  I cannot seem to get enough of it!!  Right now HBO has a movie in heavy rotation and whenever it comes on I have to watch or at least turn it up loud and follow along.  I have not been to the play yet, but I imagine that will happen soon!  I cannot stop singing Without Love and have the line "without love it's like Doris Day at The Apollo" running through my head all the time.  I do remember watching and really liking the original, John Waters, non-musical version with Ricki Lake, Divine, Patty Hearst and Sonny Bono-but this new one?!!  It's great!  If you have not seen it yet, do yourself a favor and watch it.  If you are in a bad mood-it won't last!  If you need a pick-me-up-you'll get it!

Wanna song preview or review-click on Without Love on the Playlist on the right sidebar.

I also know that I am not alone in my obsession 'cause yesterday I heard Stacey singing "hey mama, hey mama" all day!

Later,

Jen

New products...yeah!!

Kristen took out her camera yesterday and snapped photos for a long time and asked if I would tell you all about the stuff she was checking in and Kim would be putting out today (or has been put out in the last few days...)  So here goes!

New Basic Grey....really bright and pretty.  'Nuff said?!

Tons of stuff from Doodle Bug.  Flocking, Decorative Brads, Paper, Glitter Paper...tons of great stuff!  Oh!  And the Loopy Lou letters!  Love-love-love them!!

Great papers from a new company for us-October Afternoon.  You are gonna love the patterns!

New Jenni Bowlin papers and embellishments.  My guess is that with her first batch of cool stuff being so popular and flying off our shelves, her second batch will be just as popular. 

The new Cosmo Cricket line.  Very fun colors!  Just love their journaling prompt sheets!  Too much fun!

We all love the Autumn Leaves stamp sets.  Now I just have to wait and let Stacey tell me which ones I need!  I love the way she uses them in unique ways!  I think Kristen used the flowers in one of the Kids Camp projects.  Oh!  It looks great and I am wishing I was a kid, just so I could take that camp class!

We got ALL the QK new release dies.  Including the exclusive Club Dies that are only available to stores that offer QuicKutz clubs.  We do...we got 'em!

Can't go wrong with pretty new beach papers....

Oh Chatterbox!  How I love you so!  (I have my hands clasped up by my cheek as I say that!!)  They have new designs that if you are a Chatterbox devotee or not you will love!  Come check them out soon, 'cause supplies were low and I heard Jo talking about reordering soon!

These have been on backorder for so long, that, in my book, they are considered "new"!  Stock up on your favorite pens while they are back in stock!

And for those of us who love the Clearance Area...it is loaded with newly clearanced merchandise.

Come on down to the store and check it all out!

Saturday we have three great classes happening that have a few seats left in them if you want to join us tomorrow for some fun: 

Stacey's Family Tree and Diggin' Dirt albums and Deb's Friends Stamping Album.   

To view times and descriptions for these classes (and more) click here:  http://www.whimsodoodle.com/calendar.php

See you all soon!

Jen

An actual drive-thru conversation...

Last weekend I stopped by Burger King to pick up lunch for Charles and I and had an excruciating conversation with the drive-thru employee.  Of course, I had to share it with y'all!!  Two things to keep in mind when reading this:  this happened around the "tomato scare" weeks and this is not edited to be funnier!  Enjoy!!

Burger King Voice:  Can I take your order?

Me:  Yes.  I'd like a Veggie Burger with cheese and no tomatoes.

(silence)

Me:  I'd also like a Veggie Whopper with cheese and no tomatoes.

(silence)

Me:  And I like a small fry and onion rings.

BKV:  Uh...hold on a minute.

BKV:  You want a Veggie Burger?

Me:  Yes.  With cheese and no tomatoes.

(silence)

BKV:  Do you want cheese on that?

Me:  Yes.  But no tomatoes.

BKV:  I'm sorry, ma'am but we have run out of tomatoes.

Me:  That's OK since I didn't want any.

BKV:  Will that complete  your order?

Me:  No.  I also want a Veggie Whopper with cheese and no tomatoes.  (Side note:  I have NO IDEA why I said "no tomatoes" again!  Being funny?  Being a smart-alec?...)

BKV:  We don't have Veggie Whoppers.  Only Veggie Burgers.

Me:  Yes you do.  You also call them "Whoppers with no meat".

BKV:  No meat?  (finished with a tiny grunt sound) 

(silence)

BKV:  Do you want cheese on that?

Me:  I do.  Yes.

BKV:  Will that complete your order?

Me:  No.  I want small fries and small onion rings.

BKV:  Will that complete your order?

Me:  No.  I want a lemonade Icee and a large diet coke.

BKV:  Will that complete your order?

Me:  Yes.

BKV: Pull up to the first window to pay.

(I pull up to the first window to pay, but there is no one there.  I see a couple of employees chatting by the freezer inside, but neither of them notice me so I pull forward to the second window.)

Me:  Am I paying here?

BKV:  Yes.  We are at this window.  (Said with the slightest "You stupid customer" undertone!)

BKV:  You wanted a lemonade Icee, right?

Me:  Yep.

(She goes to fill the Icee, then comes back)

BKV:  The lemonade is on defrost, do you want Coke?

Me:  Um...no.  Do you have regular lemonade?

BKV:  No.

Me:  How about Fruit Punch or something?

BKV:  We have pink lemonade.

Me:  Pink lemonade?  I guess that will be OK.  (side note:  I have really turned into a smart-alec for the rest of the conversation!)

BKV:  (into headset)  Pull around to the first window to pay.

Me:  You told them to pull to the first window when you are at the second window.  See the confusion?

BKV:  This is the first window.

Me:  Not to the customer pulling around.  This is the second window.

BKV:  (Rolling her eyes she hands me my food and drinks)

Me:  Thanks.  (Side note:  As I drive away, I look in my rear view window to see the poor guy sitting at the first window waiting to pay.)

I get home and separate the food and lo and behold...we got one small fry and one large fry.  Zero onion rings!

Simply amazing....

Jen

 

Tonights Creative Cafe

Tonight’s Creative Cafe is a 12x12 single layout using the Spirit line of paper. Theme is customizable and layout can be modified to fit any size album. We are using the Accucut to make a pocket for your journaling on the page and new Fiskers border punch for accents on the page.  Creative Cafe Night is great for kids & teens that want to spend some creative time with mom, so bring them along!  You can work together on the project or make your own.

Cost tonight: $5.00

Café Kids
Have half hour or more and need something to fill up  time while the kids are out of school?   Bring your kids, teens & tweens to Creative Cafe and create some of our summer Cafe Kids projects together. During the summer there will be Cafe Kids recipe cards for simple projects that you can do with your kids. The do-it-yourself recipe cards give supply lists and step by step project instructions. The Cafe is open during regular store hours and children must be accompanied by an adult.  Please bring your own consumable supplies (adhesive, scissors, trimmers...)

See you tonight!

Kristen

Creative Cafe Tonight

Howdy girls!

Kristen has created a new project for tonight's Creative Cafe and when I saw it I said, "That has got to be one of my favorites so far!"  It is cute, useful and oh-so-easy to create!  you are gonna surely want to get the supplies to create more of these cuties! 

These are "mini pocket books" that you can either make into little note pads or photo albums!  Oh!  And you get to pick your own favorite colors tonight!!  If I didn't have to get home to walk the girls tonight, I would be sticking around to make tonight's project!

You get to make two tonight and the cost is $3.50.

Don't forget that tonight is Birthday Club and I just took a peep at the cakes that Kim ("Brandi") made for tonight and they look YUMMY!! 

***If you are coming to Birthday Club and HAVE NOT signed up yet, you must (MUST!!) sign up in advance so call the store at (727) 827-4911.  For Birthday Club you get to make a greeting card and enjoy homemade cake FOR FREE!!  It is a fun night and if you want to join....CALL RIGHT NOW TO SIGN UP!!

See you tonight!

Jen

Eat Your Veggies!!

If you are just lovin' our monthly kits, then today will be a happy day for you!  The June "Eat Your Veggies" is now available!  This month we are featuring a summer line from Bo Bunny in very pretty colors and of course, great embellishments!  All the samples are done by our super-talented teacher & design team member, Stacey and they are very inspiring and best of all easy to "scraplift" from!! 

If you have pre-ordered the kit, then it is sitting here waiting for you!  If you pre-ordered last months kit and have not picked it up yet (there are two of you!!) those are sitting here waiting for you!  Which is a good thing that you pre-ordered 'cause we sold out of kits last month!  If you have not pre-ordered and you want us to hold one of June's kits, you can call the store to have one put on hold for you:  (727) 827-4911.  If you want to take your chances, you can pop on into the store and pick one up! 

These kits are so much fun to play with, as we have been told by those of you who have joined the kit club craze!  Remember two things...1-Each month there is a hidden "fork" in one of the kits that if you find it, just turn it into us for a fun prize in the next month's kit.  2-If you are getting the kits and making fun stuff with the products, you need to share with us!  Stacey has set up a blog just for Eat Your Veggies and we will post layouts and projects made with the kits! 

Happy Friday!! New! New! New!

There is a lot going on this weekend at Whim So Doodle that I must tell you about! First of all we are loaded with new product that is super-cute and is going fast!  The Doodle Divas have made their shopping piles already....  Making Memories new Passport Collection is hitting our shopping floors today. If you have not seen this collection in person you must, it's beautiful!

NEW Chatterbox is also ready for you to come and shop. They have really changed their look around and I am lovin' it, very contemporary!  (left image)


New Doodlebug monochromatic papers are here with matching velvet brads and loose flocking for creating your ownn flocked words and designs.  (right image) 





New KI Memories Bloom, Fiskars border punches, EZ Pull Ribbon Organizer, Yellow Bicycle "Deligtful" Collection, K&Co.  Blue Awning and Sea Glass Collections and more Making Memories Noteworthy die cut papers and embellishments.
 





To make your trip more worthwhile ....
Saturday our GRADUATION and ALL SPORTS papers and embellishments on sale 40% off!!
   






Looking forward to seeing our lovely smiling customers on Saturday for some shop-shop-shopping!!

-Kristen

Christmas in July

Ho Ho Ho and Merry Christmas in July! 

Whim So Doodle is turning the store into a winter wonderland to get all of our busy crafters thinking about their holiday projects.  We want to give you tons of time to get your cards, gifts and decor projects done way in advance this year so you can (maybe) have a less stressful holiday season!

There are tons of fun things planned for the whole month of July so you might want to grab your calendar or day runner and a pen to mark down all the important days!

First of all each Saturday we will have an area set up to do Christmas inspired make-n-takes.  Each m&t will feature new products and fun techniques.  You will not need to sign up for each one, just show up!  Make-n-take hours are between 11am and 2pm. 

Our One Hit Wonder classes for the month are going to be done in a Christmas theme!  Join us either on Monday the 7th or Thursday (night) the 17th to create a fun page that will be perfect for your favorite holiday photo. 

Every Monday we will have a "showcase area" set up with weekly project samples that give you great inspiration for holiday gift giving.  We will have all the materials and simple instructions for each project.  We will also introduce a new holiday layout page kit each week!!

Each class in the month of July is going to be either themed for Christmas or for gift giving.  Stacey and Leisa both have great projects/albums, Kristen is introducing a new series class called "Heart & Home", Stacey and I are doing a Christmas Card Camp and all the Creative Cafes Happy Hours will be holiday inspired!  Check our the complete calendar on our website "calendar" page.

Also, our Saturday crop on the 18th will be full of Christmas-ey fun! 

Lastly!!  We have some great news!!  We have found out that Santa will be vacationing in St. Petersburg in July and will be here FOR ONE DAY ONLY for a day of SANTA SITTINGS IN A TROPICAL SETTING!!  We will have a "scrubby-made" dock setting with palm trees and breezes.  Santa will be dressed in his vacation gear!  This will be the ultimate photo-op for us Floridans!!  Just imagine it on your Christmas cards!!  Kids and adults are welcome!!  He will be here Saturday, July 19th.  We will be doing our sessions just like our fall Santa Sittings.  They are in half hour blocks of time and the cost is $80.  Sign ups start now!!  (Read the following post for all the specifics about Santa Sittings)

Whew!  That is a lot!!  Thanks for making it to the end of the blog post!

Talk to you soon!!

Jen