Scrap'n Tote

Dancing In The Rain

One of my Scrap'n Tote customers e-mailed me today to tell me she received her Scrap'n Tote and how much she loved it.  She also left me this little diddy that I wanted to share with all of you.

Life isn't about how to survive the storm
                            but...

          how to dance in the rain!

"Handsome Jake"

Even though he wasn't a soldier when I knew him, my dad was always a hero to me.  I have this photo  hanging in my office where I can look at it any time I want.  I call this photo "Handsome Jake".  I thought it an appropriate time to share it with all of you on Memorial Day.  

How about sharing some photos of your soldiers.

 

Bye Bye LinkedIn - Hello Hive !!

Last night , after I gave up trying to read all the blogs, I was going through my e-mail.  I had a few e-mails from LinkedIn groups that I belong to.  I have been so busy with The Hive that I have been really negligent in reading the comments in LinkedIn so I opened up a few of them.

All of a sudden it dawned on me.  Why not invite the gals from the LinkedIn groups I belong to to come and join us at The Hive.  Needless to say, I got really busy.  I belong to quite a few groups because I sell so many different kinds of storage containers for so many different kinds of Arts & Crafts.

I wrote a paragraph about how great The Hive is and copied and pasted a comment into every group I belong to along with the alternative copy and past invite link.  The long and short of it is that for 30 minutes work I was able to bring in two new members today.  And, who knows how many in the coming days.  The total membership of all the groups I belong to is over 500 members so I am hopeful a few more will be joining in the coming days.

LinkedIn is a great tool for business.  I don't want to knock LinkedIn too much.  However, in my opinion, for Arts & Crafts LinkedIn is no longer the go to place . . . The Hive is.

And, I wanted to remind everyone how easy it is to invite people.  Don't just invite your friends one at a time, invite people in BULK !!!! LOL LOL LOL

Sooooooooooo . . . Bye, Bye LinkedIn and Hello HIVE !!!!!

Marlo L Letterle

ContainYa Crafts

www.ContainYaCrafts.com

www.CricutCartridgeStorage.com

Cricut Owners: Scrap'n Tote Launch Pricing Almost Over!

Yes, all good things must come to an end.  The introductory launch pricing for  Scrap'n Tote will end on August 31st.  If you are a Cricut owner or know someone who is, have a look at Scrap'n Tote before the end of the month. 

Scrap'n Tote has it all.  'She" holds 36 cartridges, books and overlays.  And, holds 12"x12" Cricut cutting mats, 12"x12" Scrapbook Paper, and scrapping supplies. 

Scrap'n Tote works great as a stay at home storage product or a "Grab-N-Go" cropping tote.

Visit the Scrap'n Tote website for more photos and information at: www.CricutCartridgeStorage.com

Malro Letterle, Owner

ConainYa Crafts, Ltd.

Scrap'n Tote New Teacher's Pet

Scrap'n Tote is fast becoming a must have for educators who use Cricut in the classroom.  The number of educators using Cricut products to help educate, entertain, and enlighten our children is mind boggling.   Just like we professionals or home users, educators need a way to store their Cricut cartridges, books & overlays in their classrooms.  And, Scrap'n Tote fits the bill!  The fact that you can also store your scrapping tools and cutting mat in Scrap'n Tote has helped to increased its popularity in schools.

The response to Scrap'n Tote from educators and the feedback from them has been fantastic.  Teachers are telling us they are very pleased with the quality, visibility, easy clean surfaces, and customization capabilities it offers.  Many have shared that the portability is also a favorite feature as it can move from classroom to classroom (or home and back to school) with ease.

So, don't be surprised if you visit your child or grand child's class room, and, your little one drags you across the classroom to show you the Cricut machine and Scrap'n Tote binder that holds the cartridge, he or she, used to create their favorite masterpiece.

I am sure the folks at Cricut are as proud to be a part of a moment like that as we are at Scrap'n Tote.

:

Marlo Letterle, Owner - ContainYa Crafts, Ltd, Makers of Scrap'n Tote

www.CricutCartridgeStorage.com

Neither ContainYa Crafts, Ltd or Scrap'n Tote are affiliated with or endorsed by Cricut or Provo Craft.

HAVING CRICUT

CARTRIDGE

STORAGE PROBLEMS?  

Illinois Farm Country Grandmother Offers New Solution; "Grab-N-Go" Design Holds Cricut Cutting Mat, Paper & Supplies  

Google "Cricut Cartridge Storage" and you will find a slew of websites offering everything from Cricut's  own 7 1/2" x 8" storage box, many homemade solutions, entire blog pages devoted to the subject and a spattering of  YouTube videos.   Most of these sites, not counting Cricut's storage box, are from Cricut owners passing along tips, tricks and homemade solutions to share with other Cricut Owners.  A few are marketing inventions being sold on Ebay etc.  It seems that Cricut owners everywhere are continually collecting more and more cartridges, books and overlays.  Because more and more cartridges are added to the Cricut owner's collection, more and more ideas are developing to handle the ongoing storage and organization issue.      

With the exception of CGull,  few have actually gone out and had a product manufactured and designed specifically for Cricut cartridge storage.  Some products are "built" out of existing products such as a stacking tower of plastic containers or numbers placed on cartridges with matching strings and tags on the corresponding books.  Homemade solutions are generally drawer storage or cutting and pasting together dividers that hold the cartridges.  Everyone seems to have a system or suggestion.  Recently a woman from Illinois farm country took the plunge and had her version of the perfect Cricut cartridge storage product manufactured.  This new product offers features not found on any of the above mentioned products or systems.  

Just last month newcomer Marlo Letterle, owner of ContainYa Crafts, Ltd. and grandmother of 8, launched a new Cricut cartridge storage product at the CHA Craft SuperShow in Chicago called Scrap'n Tote.  At first glance the design seems too simple.  After all, it's just an oversized binder right?  Wrong!  Remember what mother told you?  "Don't judge a book by its cover."  Nothing could be more true about Scrap'n Tote.  Open the cover and you will be pleasantly surprised to find that this custom size binder has 12 custom, see through, vinyl pages, designed specifically to hold Cricut cartridges, books & overlays; three per page.   One major difference between Scrap'n Tote and other products is the "Side-By-Side" storage feature.  The cartridges, books & overlays slide into a clear, easy to view, sleeve.    Perhaps the most unique feature Scrap'n Tote offers is its ability to carry 12"x12" cutting mats and scrapbook paper, Additionally, supplies store nicely in a complimentary, see through, metal zipper storage pouch. 

  When asked how she came up with the idea, Letterle replied "Well, at the risk of sounding like Goldilocks, I simply could not find what I was looking for.  Nothing I found in stores or online was "just" right so I just decided to make it myself.  I added the features I was looking for and hoped they were the same features other Cricut owners wanted too.   I wanted the cartridges and books side by side and really visible . . . easy to find and see.  A 50 something like me can't always see the writing on the cartridges but the books are always easy to read.  I also wanted my supplies, paper and cutting mat included so I would have less to carry when going out cropping.  With Scrap'n Tote I can use one hand to tote the Cricut machine and the other hand I have everything else in my Scrap'n Tote.  We had a very successful show at the CHA Supershow last month so I guess there are lots of like minded folks out there like me."  

Scrap'n Tote is a catalog binder and costs more to produce than the standard three ring binder.  When asked why she decided to go with the more expensive catalog binder Letterle had this to say.  "The manufacturing company I used , which by the way is a US company, strongly recommended the catalog binder design to handle the weight and also for security.  Three ring binders can pop open.  Scrap'n Tote won't.    I wanted Scrap'n Tote to be versatile enough to just carry the 36 cartridges book  and overlays if desired, or to carry less cartridges and have the ability to carry supplies, paper and the cutting mat.  You know, portable.  So if you want to go cropping you just take out a couple of pages, add your supplies, paper and mat and off you go.  In other words, take what you need to crop not everything you own."  

Why not design Scrap'n Tote to hold more than 36 cartridges, books & overlays?  "Too much weight.  It just gets too heavy.    If you have more than 36 cartridges you can just start another Scrap'n Tote binder or keep one for home and one for cropping" she replied.  

What's next for Scrap'n Tote?  "I think I will add another color or two.  Right now it comes in what I call a "Cricut" green.  I would like to add pink and perhaps another color.  Definitely, I would like to have pink for Christmas.  I am also anxious to see who the Scrap'n Tote Design Contest winner is. " she said.    

Now when you Google "Cricut Cartridge Storage" you will find Scrap'n Tote in the top 10.  When asked how she felt about that Letterle answered "Over the moon.  Absolutely over the moon!"    

Scrap'n Tote can be seen at the ContainYa Crafts, Ltd. website at:  www.CricutCartridgeStorage.com

Scrap'n Tote Design Contest Information can be found on their website.

E-mail: ContainYaCrafts@aol.comTelephone (888) 231-2841

Scrap'n Tote/ContainYa Crafts, Ltd. are not affiliated with or endorsed by Cricut or Provo Craft.

Day 2 - CHA Craft SuperShow July 2010

Hi Everybody,

Day two of the show was just as busy and exciting as day one!  Several retailers and a major distributor expressed interest in Scrap'n Tote.  Keep your fingers crossed!

I was short one person on day two so we really worked!  There was hardly a moment to get a soft drink or a meal.  As a result I was not able to get very much video of people reacting when they saw Scrap'n Tote for the first time.  I will always remember it but I am disappointed I don't have much video to share with all of you.  I had one great video clip of a woman named "Rosie".  She was such a sweetheart!  The clip was great!  Only problem was that I hit the wrong button on the camera and did not record it! Yikes!  Some lessons are learned the hard way.  At any rate, I do have one fabulous clip of two ladies who loved Scrap'n Tote.  Their reaction was very typical of the hundreds of compliments I received on Scrap'n Tote throughout the show.  Many thanks to these two girls for allowing me to use the clip on my blog and website!

Some of the people I met asked the same questions over and over so I decided to put a FAQ section on the  Scrap'n Tote website.  Have a look when you get a minute.

Today I unpacked all my show stuff and tried to take it easy.  Yeah right!  LOL.  I have been working all day!  One woman I met said it best.  "We are over-stimulated" she said to me.  Wow.  How true is that?  We say it all the time when referring to children but we adults are not immune.  I figure in another day or two my feet will be touching the ground again.  I am not looking forward to it.  My feet are killing me!!!!!

Bye for now,

Marlo

Scrap'n Tote Big Hig At The CHA Craft SuperShow!

Hi Everybody!  Wow!  I just got in from my first day at the CHA Craft SuperShow.  Scrap'n Totes flew off the table as fast as we put them out.  I  completely sold out and have only 4 demo's for sale tomorrow.  No worries though.  I have 220 more Scrap'n Tote binders coming in early next week and I will be able to fill all orders received on Saturday.

People went just nuts over Scrap'n Tote and I could not be more pleased.  Several retailers are clamoring to get them into their shops!

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone at the show for all their support and compliments on Scrap'n Tote.  I am looking forward to hearing from all those who purchased Scrap'n Tote.  Let me know what you like and don't like about it it after you use it , , , and don't sugar coat! 

I am also looking forward to receiving Scrap'n Tote Design Contest entries!  Visit the Scrap'n Tote website often to check out the latest Design Entries and the lucky winner announcement in December.

CHA Craft Super Show & Scrap'n Tote

ContainYa Crafts will be participating in the CHA CraftSuper Show July 30th & 31st at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois.  You can find us at booth 1017.

Tickets For The CHA Craft Supershow Go On Sale June 1st at: www.craftsupershow.com   Ticket Discount Coupons Available At ContainYa Crafts Enter Coupon Code CREATE44 for $5.00 off two-day ticket price or $3.00 off one-day ticket price   Or, Enter Coupon Code WORKSHOP and receive a FREE two-day ticket when you purchase two or more workshops.

ContainYa Crafts was just launched this spring so I am very excited to be a part of this upcoming event.  I hope I get a chance to meet some of you there.  Please check the ContainYa Crafts and Scrap'n Tote websites for discount ticket coupons.  www.ContainYaCrafts.com  or www.CricutCartridgeStorage.com

ContainYa Crafts will also be launching a new storage product at the CHA CraftSupershow . . . the Scrap'n Tote.  Scrap'n Tote was designed to store Cricut cartridges, instruction booklets, and templates in a unique "Side-By-Side" design.

Thank you,

Marlo Letterle