Why Scrapbook??

Dear Friends,

I have been surfing the Internet today as I do on occasion and I have to tell you about a site I found and an article I read on that site. The site is The Angel Company™ . The Angel Company™ was founded in Salina, Kansas in 1997 by Mischelle Smith.

The article she wrote is entitled "Why Scrapbook?" Here it is:

"Why Scrapbook?

I’ve always considered myself a die-hard stamper–not a scrapbooker! Everything I’ve stamped, I’ve given away, keeping only a handful of items. I was happy knowing that I was sharing my stamping "creations" with family and friends.

But. . . something happened a few years back that I have never forgotten. We were celebrating Christmas with my husband's family and it came time to open the presents. Like most people, I like to think that I'm giving really GREAT gifts.

I mean ... I really think about the gifts I give. I want them to be perfect! I spend a lot of time trying to find that something special.

As we went around the room opening up gifts, my mother-in-law opened the gift from my sister-in-law. It was an album ... I believe a 6x6. This little album was filled with highlights of my niece's year. And that was her gift. At that moment, I knew the answer to "Why Scrapbook?"

As perfect as the gifts I bought were, they were just "things" without emotion, without memories. That little album represented bits and pieces in my niece's life that will now never be forgotten.

That Christmas, I realized I had NOTHING recorded about my children, their lives, my husband, our life together, our families. . . NOTHING! NOTHING to pass on to my children. NOTHING like that little 6x6 album! That album was truly a gift from the heart! That moment has been engraved in my mind ever since, and it has changed my life!

Since that day, I've changed. I bought my first digital camera and I'm snap happy! I successfully completed my first album last fall. I take pictures like there's no tomorrow, and I create with the pictures I take!

What I have discovered is that through scrapbooking , I am becoming a better person. When I scrap, I'm usually thinking about what I want people to remember about this day or this moment years from now. I'm reflecting on what matters most, and I'm learning how to celebrate life!

The time I spend reflecting on my children, my husband, my family, my friends ... it makes me cherish them even more. I want to be a blessing to them. I want to make a difference in their lives. I want to be a dream maker. And I can. I am truly living. And I'm having fun doing it!

I now realize that I HAVE to scrapbook so I can leave behind bits and pieces of myself, my life, my emotions, my memories, my hopes and dreams that would otherwise be forgotten. In my pages, I hope to touch the hearts and lives of my children, my family, and my friends; and of their children, their family, and their friends for generations to come."

I would like to highly recommend this site to you and if you haven't started scrapbooking yet, that is something you really need to consider especially if you have small children or like me, grandchildren.

As Mischelle said, this is a way to perserve those wonderful moments in your life on paper and in a central location (the scrapbook) so your children and ultimately, your grandchildren will have this record when you are not with them any longer.

With the many wonderful ideas on Mischelle's site and the Cricut Expression®, you should be able to create any number of terrific pages.

Until next time...

Della

Calling all Scrapbookers

Dear Friends,

I have always been a person who loves crafts. I love cross stitching, quilting and other types of crafts.

One night I couldn't sleep and was watching TV and happened onto one of those Infomercials. It was about the Cricut® Expression. Well, I just fell in love with it. It is perfect for folks who are scapbookers or for those of you who make those cute invitations for baby showers or wedding teas. This machine will even cut vinyl. You can use these pieces of vinyl to create stencils to do glass etching.

You will not believe how many things this machine will do.

Well, I just thought that I would like to take Dogwood Square into another area. So I contacted the company who manufactures the Cricut® Expression, ProvoCraft, and became one of their retailers.

So now you can buy the Cricut® Expression from Dogwood Square. I'm really excited about this new area of interest.

Until next time...

Della

You'll be Over the Mooon ...

Dear Friends,

It's a new year with a new President and even though the economy is "in the dumps", there is reason for hope!

I received an e-mail the other day from one of my vendors (Baby Aspen) with some precious baby gifts which I want to share with you.



This one is cute 17" lovie blanket with a plush cow's head in the center. It comes in the crescent moon shaped gift box you see in the picture. It won't be available until the first week in February, but I think it is just precious. It sells for $25.00 and the link to it is:
"The Cow Jumped Over the Moon"

This next one I'm absolutely in love with. It's a squeezable, cuddly chenille lamb—just the right size for baby’s tiny hands. The set also includes a matching 13 ½”-square lovie blanket , embroidered with “Everywhere that baby went, the lamb was sure to go” on the satin trim. How cute is that!

This precious set sells for $28.00 and the link to it is:
"Love Ewe".

Oh, I almost forgot, it comes in a Organza and Satin Drawstring Bag, just perfect for giving.

I want to show you one more I think is quite unique and will last into the toddler years. This gift has 7 pieces including the main piece "Mother Goose" and also a set of 3 plus Nursery Rhyme Buddies each with their own plus books.


When the little one becomes a toddler and starts walking, this Mother Goose gift set becomes not only an interactive teaching tool, but a terrific Tag-along buddy for the toddler’s happy travels around the house.

This 7-piece gift sells for $40.00 and can be seen at this link:
"Mother Goose."

We have 22 delightful gifts for babies from Baby Aspen. Please come and see them. I think you will love them as much as I do.

Until next time...

Della

Exciting New Favors for a Winter Wedding

Dear Friends,

It's winter and those georgous Winter Weddings are here and as usual Kate Aspen has some really pretty favors to complete your plans. These favors are available now for those winter nuptuals. Let me show you some of them:


1. This is the Snowflake Bottle Stopper in Shimmering Gift Box:

Like icicles on a crystal clear winter day, these chrome snowflake bottle stoppers bring the essence of the season to any occasion. Imagine the winter wonderland created for your guests at every table when they see this beautiful and practical favor, crowned by an ornately crafted snowflake, just waiting to be taken home. Features and facts:

• Kate Aspen's chrome bottle stopper is solid chrome, with a notable weight and lasting quality
• Bottle stopper measures 4 ½” x 1 ½”
• A pearlescent white gift box surrounds the stopper with a shower of silver snowflakes
• Gift box is accented with a sheer white organza ribbon and a snowflake-studded "For You" tag
• Priced as low as $2.80
• Can be seen at http://www.dogwoodsquare.com/wedding_favors/

2. This is “Embossed Elegance” Snowflake Favor Box (Set of 24):

Remember those glorious snow showers on a chilly winter’s day when you were young, and you’d catch those gently falling snowflakes on the tip of your tongue? Bring that heartwarming ambience to your beautiful winter wedding reception, Christmas dinner table or holiday party buffet table with “Embossed Elegance” Snowflake Favor Boxes! Features and facts:

• White snowflakes feature a delightful, embossed design
• Fill with gourmet chocolate or other sweet treat
• Snowflake measures 2 ¾” h x 3” w x 1 ¼” d
• Die-Cut favor box measures 1 ¼” square
• Easy assembly
• Priced as low at $18.00 for a set of 24
• Can be seen at http://131253.brightwebsite.com/store/show_product/?product_id=41526648

3. This is Crystal Snowflake Glass Coaster with Ribbon and Thank You Tag

These beautiful coasters make winter weddings especially elegant, and seasonal parties even more festive. Offer them on your reception tables, or give them away at holiday parties. Either way, your guests will walk away charmed.

• Each glass coaster set includes four 3.5" x 3.5" substantial glass coasters frosted with delicate snowflakes. (We've even worked romantic little hearts into the design!)
• Perfectly packaged in a clear gift box complete with sheer white organza ribbon and elegant silver and white "Thank You" tag.
• Priced as low as $2.50
• Can be seen at http://www.dogwoodsquare.com/store-products-KACSGC-Crystal-Snowflake-Glass-Coaster-with-Ribbon-and-Thank-You-Tag_31247744.html

There are other wonderful, unique and elegant wedding favors available on our site. Please come and see Wedding Favors and Accessories

Until next time...

Della

After Christmas Bargains

Dear Friends,

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas/Hanukkah with your families and are now enjoying your gifts.

We had a rather quiet Christmas this year. Our son and his family came over for Christmas eve and the baby (now 20 months) opened her presents. She is not quite old enough to know what all the fuss is about just yet. Next year will be a different story. She will understand and "Katie bar the door." From then on, it will be Christmas lists and all manner of begging and pleading for toys, etc.

They went to the other grandparents for Christmas Day so we had a very quiet day.

I am also writing this to let you know that I have put a Sale Items Page on the Dogwood Square website for all those items which are seasonal, discontinued, or retired. I have been holding on to them and selling them as folks requested them, but have decided to offer them all the time at discounted prices.

You will find old Claire Burke Fragrance Warmer Refills which have long been retired, also Claire Burke items in retired fragrances. There are Thymes items I still have left -- some retired some not, but all of them are in very limited quantities. As well as several other former items I have been holding on to for no apparent reason. I'm sure you will be able to find something you like or have been looking for, for a long time.

Well, it's time to wrap this up and wish each and every one of you a very Happy, Healthy, Prosperous and Safe New Year!

Until next time...

Della

Roll Tide Roll!

Dear Friends,

Well, I have to do a little braggin'...after all, I do live in the State of Alabama. And even though I truly am a Tennessee Fan, and by the way, good bye to a great coach, Philip Fulmer.

Anyway, back to my adopted state...after a dismal decade or more, we finally have some pride back in the state. I guess all that money Alabama spent on Nick Saban has really paid off. Who would have ever guessed that in just two short years he would have turned the program around and crafted a team which went from position 26 at the beginning of the year to position 1 now for at least the last 4 weeks.

But the next game will really show what this Cinderella team is made of. Florida has worked its way to number 4 in the BCS and is a formidable opponent. If Alabama wins in the SEC Championship, they really deserve to be number 1.

So until next time...Roll Tide Roll!

Della

Stock Up for the Holidays

Ahhh...don't you love the holidays!! The sights and sounds and oh, the smells of the holidays. It's that time of year: the days are getting shorter, school is back in session, everyone is talking about what their going to wear to the football game this weekend and for that matter, who is going to be there and who is going to win the big game. Memories or those summer beach parties are fading into the sunset.

Soon it will be time to start thinking about Halloween followed quickly by Thanksgiving and finally Christmas.

Let me tell you about some items we have at Dogwood Square which will get you in the mood for all that holiday festivity.

First of all Tyler Candles. Tyler candles come in so many wonderful holiday fragrances they are bound to make even the grouchiest person feel good. Fragrances like:

• A Christmas Tradition
• Candy Cane
• Christmas Cheer
• Eggnog
• Holiday
• Homecoming
• Mulberry Moments
• Mulled Cider
• Pumpkin Spice
• Seasons Greetings
• Snickerdoodles
• Vintage

Then we have more candles by Sweet Grass Farms:

• Baked Apples & Cream
• Coastal Bayberry
• Maple Sugar
• New England Woods

Then, of course, we have our famous Claire Burke fragrances that everyone loves:

• Apple Jack & Peel
• Pumpkin Strudel
• Christmas Memories & Oh Christmas Tree

So now is the time to start stocking up on all those holiday fragrances so when you are ready for those holiday get-togethers your house will smell as great and it will look.

Until next time...

Della