Last Minute Holiday Crafts & G45 Featured Store, Violettes!

Hello G45ers,

We want to welcome you all to another happy day here on the Graphic 45 blog! We have so much to share with you today! It's been a while since we had a featured store here on the Graphic 45 blog. So we thought it would be fun to take you inside the delightful shop Violettes in Lakeland, Florida! We've got a fun interview and photos from this wonderful store. They are big fans of Graphic 45! Plus we have some gorgeous holiday crafts from Tara Orr and Nicole Eccles that are sure to get you inspired for some last minute holiday crafting! This is a great time to use these last few days of the holiday season to enjoy some festive crafting with Graphic 45! This is going to be a really fun day! First up is our interview with Violettes! We always love doing business with this sweet store. They are wonderful people and their enthusiasm for Graphic 45 is out of this world! Take a journey to lovely Lakeland, Florida and say hello to the fine folks at Violettes!

Tell us about yourself, your store, staff and customers.  What makes you special?

Violettes is owned and operated by Diana Newberry.  I guess you could say I’ve been a crafter since a young age when I would spend my allowance on pens and paper -  who knew that it would develop into a store that is that is 4200 sq feet and 13 rooms of endless creativity.   Violettes is approximately 12 years old and has a client base that is worldwide with a mixtures of age groups. We are successful  because with us everything is treated as though it is a #1 priority: customers,  product selection, classes, talented teachers and the love of the craft. They are equally as important. Above our door as you walk in we have a sign that reads “your favorite place to be” and we hear this just about everyday.  How lucky are we. We tell our customers hello and to have “fun” each and every time they visit.  It’s our motto.

Why Graphic 45?

G45 is a product line that is simply spectacular on it’s own.  It inspires and sparks  creativity in everyone.    What’s not to love, the company is very much like us and we like being treated like we are family.  It is a product line the excites our teachers with a result of exciting classes.  Students work with the product and then when class is done it spills back into the g45 area it starts all over again and again.

What kind of activities do you have that use Graphic 45 products with? 

Classes. We find that when we use the Graphic 45 lines for classes, we need to schedule more than
one.  They quickly sell out.   We show the lines in various craft ideas, from home décor to scrapbooking to tag making.  It simply inspires everyone from the beginner to the experienced crafter. The teachers are so excited when the boxes arrive. They hurry and grab the product to start creating.   It is very interesting to see how the same line can be expressed in so many different ways.  

Tell us what your customers have to say about products.      

We have an area devoted to g45 not too far from the entrance.  It makes a statement on it’s own. The customers all comment on the design and color.  They know when they buy the product that they are always satisfied with their purchase.  It’s as though you know your project  will be worthy of showing off -  because you are immediately off to a good start by purchasing a line that displays so much though and creativity.

 

There you have it, G45ers! If you are in Lakeland, Florida any time soon be sure to stop in and say hello to the wonderful folks at Violettes!

     Violettes

           4604 Cleveland Heights Blvd.

            Lakeland, Florida  33813

     (863) 644-0801

       http://www.violettesscrapbookstore.com/ 

And now it's time for crafts! Today we're sharing some wonderful last minute ideas for holiday crafts. Maybe you've got a few more holiday engagements to go to. Or perhaps you're just enjoying these last few days of the holiday season. Either way it's still the perfect time to get festive! If the Christmas tree is still up it's still Christmas, right?! First up we have this magnificent Nutcracker Sweet layout by Tara Orr. So many fun photos are taken during the holidays. Layouts like this one are just perfect for immortalizing your precious holiday memories! Get inspired with this incredibly fresh and beautiful LO! Create one of your own using your favorite holiday photos and Graphic 45 papers! Here is what Tara had to say about this incredible creation!

I created this project based on a sketch from Nadia over at Once Upon a Sketch (http://onceuponasketchblog.blogspot.ca/). This layout took on a very earthy, monochromatic feel - still love it! Our family tradition is to put up our trees together while listening to Christmas tunes and sipping eggnog, hot chocolate and eating cookies! There is a hidden journaling tag to the right of the page which reads: "What a difference from last year! So glad we are all healthy and really able to enjoy Christmas in 2012! So excited in fact, that our tree was up the weekend of Remembrance Day!!! Guess we have to make up for lost time!!"-Tara Orr

Graphic 45 Supplies:

Patterned Paper: Holiday Magic, Festive Fairytale, Endearing Sentiments, Enchanted Journey: Nutcracker Sweet

Nutcracker Sweet Chipboard Die-cuts 1

Nutcracker Sweet Chipboard Die-cuts 2

Nutcracker Sweet Stickers

Nutcracker Sweet Alphabet Stickers

Next up is this super sweet and clever Nutcracker Sweet creation! This one was made by Nicole Eccles! It's a handmade gift box for tea or hot cocoa using Nutcracker Sweet! This is an amazing idea for any time of the year but it looks absolutely perfect for the holidays! This is a fun and easy project to make. Just follow Nicole's great instructions to create one for your family or friends! Here is what Nicole had to say about this festive treasure!

"This little gift box is great for all those coffee, tea, or cocoa drinkers out there!  Super easy and inexpensive to make, it even makes a cute little Christmas decoration too.  Simply made with a chipboard cone found at any craft store and a hand cut chipboard circle.  The cone was cut down a tiny bit at the tip, then wrapped with yummy Graphic 45 papers and adhered to the circle for it’s stand!  The little handle was also hand cut from chipboard and added the perfect little spot for a  gift tag!  As an added touch, I made a drippy looking border of Hot Cocoa and covered the whole thing with Mica for that simple vintage shine!" Nicole Eccles

Supplies:

Graphic 45 Papers:

A Nutcracker Sweet: Land of Sweets, Christmas March

Nutcracker Sweet Tags 2 

Colorbox Decades Inks: Triumphant Red 

May Arts: Ribbon

Ranger: Xmas Red Stickles

Martha Stewart: Dripping Goo Border Punch

Other: Chipboard cone, extra pieces of chipboard for handle and base, tinsel, Mica

That's all for today, G45ers! Thank you all so much for stopping by! We want to thank Violettes for their wonderful feature on today's blog. We also want to thank Tara Orr and Nicole Eccles for their incredible work. We hope today's blog helped fill you all with some extra holiday inspiration. Please come back and see us tomorrow for more craft delights and fun! Have a terrific day!

Happy Papercrafting!.

Your Friends at Graphic 45

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Jo Anne Mason]

Love Tara's layout - its gorgeous. Would love to know how she did the flowers??!!

[Sharon Young]

Thanks for the store visit and wonderful ideas today.

[Myra Skidmore]

Thanks for bringing us the peek insides Violettes store. I think I could spend hours in there! And the inspiration pieces from Nicole and Tara are gorgeous!

[anne schilling]

The projects are wonderful and the store needs to relocate in Duluth, MN! We need this up here!

[Brenda B.]

WOW...these projects are phenomenal. I love that very clever mug!

[Sue B.]

What a cute idea! I should start on next years Christmas.

[Caroline]

Love LO by Tara. Really struggling to do one right now...

[Pam Bray]

OMG, I am actually in Tampa visiting my family. May have to get my husband or daughter in law to take me over and let them know I seen them on Graphic 45. But in the meantime just wanted to say I am lovin the Sneak Peek to French Country Collection. another got to have and I will definitely be visiting the blog during peeks week. Love my Graphic 45

[Amy Kluchesky]

Tara Orr is simply the best. Nothing compares to her work and nothing is like it. I'm in total awe of each project she does.

[Michelle Salazar]

Such a fun store and wow amazing projects!

[Gretchen Wilson]

WowI finally got to see your shop, how wonderful. Someday I'll get there in person. Graphic 45 is my favorite line of paper. Thanks for sharing the wonderful visit.

[Jocelyn Cazier]

What fantastic projects. While my LSS are awesome we don't usually see classes in G45 product often.

[fusiafscrapping]

Those projects are wonderful. Tara - you are the best!

[Sue Kendrick]

I was lucky enough to be in Lakeland several years ago and made it a point to visit Violette's. It is the best scrapbook store ever. Is there going to be a pdf for Jane's page 6? I couldn't find a link. Thanks for all the fabulous Christmas crafts.

[Barbara Parker]

Wow ! I will have to take a trip down to Violette's I am in Ocala, about 90 minutes away....the store looks wonderful !

[Julie Tucker-Wolek]

Looks like a fabulous store!! I loveeeeeeee all today's projects!! Beautiful!!

[Cathy Osborne]

All so beautiful. I especially love the chipboard cone used to make the cup. That will make great Valentine treats.

[Jackie H]

I felt warm while I looked at the store in FL ! The store looks like a fun place to be ! I like the two projects! The layout is my shade of green!

[Karen Itzenhuiser]

Great blog today! Fantastic projects!!!

[Patricia Howarth]

Violette's is my kind of craft store, I wish I could visit there, it looks like heaven on earth.
The projects today are superb, I adore the layout and the gift box is beautiful.
Lots of love from Patricia xx

[pitje]

The store look beautiful and lots of great projects! What a stunning LO from Tara. TFS!

[Dorothy]

Wish I lived in Florida!!
Thanks for all the inspiration!

[ava g]

great layout and creation by the DT today.
ava g

[Tanya]

I am from Lakeland, FL now living in the San Francisco area. It is nice to know there are good/great scrapbook stores in Lakeland. I will have to visit when I get back to Lakeland! I know exactly where that store is!

[Beth White]

The layout is stunning

[Kristina M. Anderson]

What fabulous projects! There are some very creative people in the world! Love the cute mug project. What a clever idea. I am going to have to give it a whirl. Happy New Year and cannot wait for CHA previews!

[Rea Custer]

Great projects and Scrap store, that Christmas cup is the bomb.

[Veridiana Lasalle]

Love the store and all the goodies that have been shown here.Great

[christian louboutin schuhe]

s llike sehr, ich danke Ihnen.

Very nice, thanks for sharing.