the imagination factory

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Happy new Year to all. Hope you all enjoyed  the festive season, and saw the New Year in in style, wherever you may have been.

The Imagination Factory reopened today for 2010 after a short Christmas closure. Our hours of opening remain the same over Summer, being 9.30 until 5.30 Monday to Friday and 10am until 4pm on Saturdays. Closed Sundays.

We still have good stocks of Christmas papers & embellishments for those wishing to scrap their Christmas photos. For those after new stock, we have new Prima, Bella, and KI memories products in store now & other new arrivals expected throughout January.

The biggest news of all is that Fiona & I are preparing to leave for Anaheim, USA to attend the Craft & Hobby Association trade show where we will source all the latest & greatest in products & techniques to bring back to share with you, our customers. So stay tuned for updates.(and hopefully some happy snaps with some of your favourite celebrity scrappers)

Crops resume for this year on Friday 29th January, and classes commence at the start of Feb. Details available in store now, or here on the blog soon.

Thats all for now.

 Happy scrapping,

Tracey & the team.

DECEMBER NEWS

Welcome to the silly season! The countdown to Christmas is well under way, & i'd rather not think about how many sleeps 'til the man in red comes.

CONGRATULATIONS BERNIE

We are so proud of our very own Imagination Factory Design Team member Bernie Dodd. Bernie's gorgeous Christmas layout graces this months cover of Scrapbooking memories magazine, and she has also written an excellent article inside on how to scrap the same photo two different ways. Well done Bernie. Your talent is amazing. 

http://www.scrapbookingmemories.com.au/

RETREAT PHOTO

Without further ado, we are finally able to present the official 2010 retreat photo, with many thanks to Katrina and her camera.

If you would like a copy to scrap, please let us know at the store & we will organize a copy for you.

CHRISTMAS CROP

Thirty two lovely ladies scrapped the night away last Friday night & enjoyed the festivities at our Imagination Factory Christmas Crop. Thank you all for taking part. Crops kick off for 2010 on the last Friday in January. Not many spots left so get in quick.

CLASSES

Classes have also wrapped up for 2009. Thank you to all our wonderful customers who attend each month, and a special thank you to our instructors who we could not do without. Stay tuned for  news of some guest teachers in 2010. Classes will resume early February.

That's all for now. Happy Scrapping,

Tracey & the team.

NOVEMBER NEWS

Only 6 weeks til Christmas, Oh My Gosh! Just where has the year gone?

RETREAT REPORT

Thank you to the 38 wonderful ladies who helped to make our 2nd annual retreat so much fun. Everyone enjoyed two whole days & two nights of serious scrapping fun, with lots of laughs thrown in. It was fantastic to receive all of your feedback afterwards, and we can't wait to make 2010's retreat even better. Watch this space for official retreat photo, coming very soon.

CHALLENGE WINNER

Congratulations to Lisa Cressey, winner of this months challenge, and thank you to everyone who entered.Your layouts may be collected from the store , and Lisa, your $12.00 gift voucher is waiting for you.Challenges will resume in the new year, with a different format, so stay tuned.

SHOP HOURS

We will be closed next Wednesday 18th November for Ballarat Cup Day.

We will close at 2pm on Thursday December 24th for the Summer break & reopen on Monday 4th January at 9.30am.

CLASSES

There are still a few classes left for 2009.

** Fiona's card frenzy 13th Nov

** Julie's card class  14th Nov

**Christmas banner class  16th Nov

**Crop night   20th Nov

**Calendar class  25th & 26th Nov

**Childrens Christmas mini-album  27th Nov. 

****CHRISTMAS CROP****  Fri 4th DEC.

and thats all for classes for 2009.

Happy scrapping,

Tracey & the team.

29 September 2009

Yes I know it’s been way too long between posts, so here I am with an extra long one to make up for lost time.  With all the ordering, classes, crops and retreat planning, we have been run off our feet.  School holidays have arrived yet again and our children’s classes are all fully booked.  And Christmas is around the corner and will be here before you know it!

CHALLENGE CONGRATULATIONS

The winner of The Imagination Factory Sketch Challenge was Rachael with her mermaid layout.  Congratulations, you may pick up your gift voucher in store – thank you to all the lovely talented ladies who entered.  There are a couple of days to go until the September Challenge is due in, so if you have purchased a Challenge Pack from the store, don’t forget to return your layout by the 30^th September for your chance to win.

RETREAT

The countdown has begun with only 25 sleeps to go!  All the ladies who have paid their $50 deposit should have received their retreat information in the mail if not please let us know.

MASSAGE

Call the store to book your ½ hour or hour massage with Megan Huntly for a relaxing massage at the retreat.

MASTERCLASS

Bookings essential for this fabulous class with Celeste Vermeend (Scrapbooking Memories Master) Celeste has designed at least 5 original 12x12 painted and scrapped canvases which are delightful.

Cost is $35 including canvas, paint, modpodge, templates and tuition.  Requirements list will be made available on booking in some canvases are in store for you to look at.

 

 

 

 

DAY SCRAPPING

For those who can’t manage a whole weekend away, there are limited spaces available for day scrapping on Saturday at a cost of $55 per person inclusive of lunch and dinner. Phone the store for more details or to book in.

CLASSES & CROPS

As some of you may be aware our classes and crops are now frequently fully booked.  Unfortunately, we seem to have an increasing problem of customers booking into classes and crops and not attending. This is extremely frustrating for both myself and customers who miss out, because if we are not notified of your inability to attend, we are unable to give your spot to a customer on the waiting list.  For classes in particular, stock is pre-cut for the booked number of customers and then is wasted in the case of non- attendance.  For these reasons, we must insist that a $10 deposit is paid for all classes.  This deposit will only be transferred to another class if at least 48 hours notice is given of inability to attend - no exceptions.  If there continues to be a problem with crop night bookings/attendance then we will need to try prepaying crop night fees to secure bookings.

On a brighter note, please find October classes below.

OCTOBER CLASSES

CARD CLASSES

Make 3 gorgeous greeting cards with Julie, whilst learning valuable techniques that also come in handy for scrapbooking.

Date: Wednesday 7^th October  Time: 7:00 – 9:00pm

Saturday 17th October Time 11am – 1pm

Cost $25

DOUBLE LAYOUT CLASS

 

Date: Monday 12 October  Time: 6-8:30pm

Cost: $35

SUE’S CARD CLASSES

Come along and make 2 great Christmas cards and 1 birthday card with Sue

Date: Thursday 15^th October Time: 11-1pm

Monday 19^th October  Time: 6-8pm

Cost: $25

CHILDRENS CLASS

Date: Friday 30^th October  Time: 4:30-6pm

Cost: $20

The Imagination Factory will close at 2pm on Thursday 24^th December for the Christmas break and re-open at 9:30 on Monday 4^th January 2010.

Last but not least we would like to extend our deepest sympathy to Jan Wakelings family, on her passing.  Jan has been a loyal and kind customer and friend of ours over the past 18 months and sadly lost her battle with cancer recently.

Hope to see you in-store soon!

Happy Scrapping!

Tracey and the team.

August Classes

JULIE’S CARD CLASS

Date: Wednesday 5 August  Time: 7 – 9pm

& 

Saturday 22 August Time 11 – 1pm

Cost:  $25

 

CROP NIGHT

Date: Friday 28 August

Time: 6pm to midnight

$12 – supper provided

 

WINTER WARMER CROP DAY

Date: Sunday 9^th August

Time: 10am – 4pm

$12 –Afternoon tea provided

 

FIONA'S CARD CLASS

Date: Saturday 1st August

Time: 11am-1pm

$25

 

CHILDREN’S CLASS

Date: 7^thAugust Time 4:30-6pm

Cost $20

Make some cool & groovy cards for Birthdays & other occasions.

For ages 7 & up.

 

BEGINNERS SCRAPBOOK PAGE LAYOUT

Date: Monday 10th August Time 7–8:30pm

Cost: $25

 

RUBY ROCKET MINI ALBUM

Date Wednesday 26 August  Time 6 -9pm

Thursday 27^th August  Time 11-1pm

Cost: $30

 

Make this fabulous mini album out of the new Ruby Rock-It range of papers. With bright flowers, flourishes & butterflies, this one would be suitable for most themes including friends, family, travel, & girls of any age.

 

One last thing...The Factory Supreme Kit is available in store. $50 gets you a pizza box filled with gorgeous papers & embellishments from Crate, as well as matching Bazzill, letter stickers and lots more...plus 4 layout instructions designed by fiona Leehane...

 

July classes

LOTS OF NEWS

Hi Everyone!  We have lots of news to share this month. Just so you don’t miss anything, here’s a snippet of what’s included

• Design Team Winners Announced
• July class calendar posted
• Retreat bookings officially open
• New stock in store

So grab a cuppa and sit back and relax.

 

DESIGN TEAM

Firstly, we would like to thank all of the lovely ladies who took the time and effort to enter our “Search for a Design Team”.  Everyone’s work was of such a high standard that it made choosing our Design Team a very difficult job indeed.  If only we could have chosen you all!!  So, without further ado, we would like to announce our Imagination Factory Design Team……

Congratulations to the very talented

Bernie Dodd and

Joanne Boak

We look forward to sharing their amazing work with you over the next 12 months.  And stay tuned for details of our guest designer, to be announced later this year!

 

RETREAT 2009

It is with much excitement that we are finally able to take formal bookings for the Imagination Factory 2009 retreat.

WHEN:         Friday 23^rd October from 4pm until

                    Sunday 25^th October 3pm

WHERE:       Cave Hill Creek,  approx. 40mins drive from Ballarat.

                    Idyllic bush surrounds with multishare bunkrooms.

COST:                    $170

INCLUDES:   All meals for Saturday and Sunday and finishing with Sunday lunch.

                    Unlimited scrapping / crafting time in spacious, open area.

                    Freebies and prizes

                    Full use of outdoor facilities and activities

OPTIONAL

EXTRAS:      Master class workshop with Ballarat’s very own Celeste Vermeend, current Scrapbooking Memories Magazine Master.  An opportunity not to be missed.

Relaxing remedial massage with Megan Huntly (massage therapist and Imagination Factory Regular) * Book early to avoid disappointment!

HOW TO BOOK:

Simply pay your $50 non refundable deposit at the Imagination Factory to secure your place for the Retreat. Numbers are limited so book early so as not to miss out.

We will then forward you a gold registration form, which needs to be filled out and returned to the Imagination Factory no later than 2 weeks prior to the retreat.

Once registered, we will send you additional updates regarding the retreat as they become available.

 

JULY CLASSES

 

JULIE’S CARD CLASS

By amazingly popular demand, Julie is running 3 card classes this month.  Book early – only a couple of spots left!!!

Date: Wednesday 1 July  Time: 7 – 9pm

Saturday 11^th July Time 11 – 1pm

Saturday 18^th June  Time: 11 – 1pm

Cost:  $25

 

CROP NIGHTS

Date: Friday 3^rd July

Friday 17^th July

Friday 31^st July

Time: 6pm to midnight

$12 – supper provided

 

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS CHILDRENS CLASS

Are you wondering what to do with the kids during the winter holidays?  How about a trip to the Imagination Factory!

This gorgeous girly room decoration will look beautiful hanging above a bedroom window.  Lots of glueing and threading involved, ages 8 and up recommended!

Date: Thursday 2^nd July, Time 10 – 11:30pm

Cost $20

 

Make a funky paper handbag with wallet inside! 

Date: Thursday 9^th July, Time 10- 11:30pm

Cost $20

 

 

 

BUDGET SCRAPPING LAYOUT LASSES

Make a fabulous male or female themed layout in just 1½ hours for only $20 – inc. materials and tuition.  You’ll be surprised just how fabulous a budget layout can look.

Date: Monday 13^th July Time 7 – 8:30pm

Cost: $20

 

RUSTY PICKLE POCKET POP ALBUM

Make this groovy 6” album with neutral themed papers, with pockets, windows, and an amazing pop-up rotating picture ball to finish it off!  Full of techniques and limited to only 6 places.

Date Monday 20^th July, Time 6 -9pm

Cost: $40

 

GIRLZ RULE MINI BOOK

Get groovy with this super cool girls rule mini book in hot pink, black and lime green, complete with skulls and love hearts the perfect gift for teens and preteens alike.

Date: Wednesday 29^th July Time 6-8:30pm

Thursday 30^th July Time 11-1:30pm

Cost: $30

 

What a mammoth log post!  There is loads of new stock in store, including the brand new Kaiser Q-One release, which is walking out the door.  Arriving any day now is October afternoon, Basic Grey and more!

See you in store.

Happy Scrapping!

Tracey and the Team

June News

It’s officially here today – Winter!!  And what fine weather for scrapping.

Tomorrow sees Fiona & I head off to Brisbane for the trade classes, where we will learn some new techniques and create with new products ready to bring back to pass on to you.  We will also be taking the CRICUT machine with us for a service, so it will be unavailable for customer use until Saturday 6^th June.  Apologies for the inconvenience, but it really is overdue for a service.

INTERNATIONAL TUTOR

Only one week to go until we have the pleasure of Lance Anderson, from Rusty Pickle (U.S.A) come to the store to teach two awesome classes.  At only $65 per class, it’s fabulous value, and places are filling fast.  Don’t miss out on this opportunity to take a class with an international tutor, right in our very own town – Ballarat!

CHALLENGE WINNER

Congratulations to last months challenge winner Lauren Bailey!  Thank you everyone for entering, and Lauren you may collect your $10 Imagination Factory voucher from the store.

DESIGN TEAM

Entries are due next Tuesday 9^th June, at 5:30pm.  Full details of how to enter are available in store.  Can’t wait to see your entries.

JUNE CLASSES

JULIE’S CARD CLASS

Date: Wednesday 3^rd June  Time: 7 – 9pm – BOOKED OUT

Saturday 20^th June  Time: 11 – 1pm – BOOKED OUT

*** Extra Class  Due to popular demand

Wednesday17th June 7-9pm – now taking bookings

Cost:  $25

CROP NIGHTS

Date: Friday 5^th June

Friday 19^th June

Time: 6pm to midnight

$12 – supper provided

RUSTY PICKLE CLASSES – International Tutor

Two awesome 6 x 12 albums.  See details on previous blog post.
Date:  Monday 8^th June (Public

Holiday

)

Time:  1pm – 4pm & 5-9pm

Cost:  $65 per class

 

COLOUR THEORY with FIONA

BYO stash of nominated colour combo

and Fiona will help you design and put together your own layouts

Date: Friday 12^th June Time: 7:30 – 9:30pm

Date: Monday 22^nd June  Time 10am to midday

Cost $15 per class

 

BEGINNERS LAYOUT

Learn the basic of scrapbooking, including inking, distressing, and rubons whilst making a simple but stunning layout with Sue.  Bring 3, 4x6” photos that can be trimmed a little to fit

Date: Monday 15^th June Time 6-7:30pm

$25

 

CONCERTINA PHOTO DISPLAY

A photo display for mantelpiece or table, that can be easily adapted to fit a variety of themes, and further embellished at home if desired.  Using the new Tim Holtz grunge paper, cricut machine, glimmer mist and Zutter Bind-it-all, this one is full of useful techniques and tips.  Bring along 4 photos, preferably black and white or sepia, or add photos later.  Need to be able to trim photos to approx. 3” x 4”.

Date: Wednesday 24^th May Time: 6-8pm

 Or Thursday 25^th may Time 11-1pm

Cost $25

 

CHILDRENS CLASS

Make this groovy little trading card tin and some “swap cards” to go inside.

Cute and girly, with bright flowers and ribbons.

Date: Friday 26^th June, Time 4:30-6pm

Cost $20

JULY CLASSES

Calendar available in store will be posted here soon!

~International Tutor To Visit Ballarat~

We have just received the most exciting news and just couldn’t wait to share with all our scrapping friends!

 

Lance Anderson, International tutor for RUSTY PICKLE, is coming to Ballarat to teach! Lance will be at The Imagination factory on Monday the 8^th of June to teach not just one, but two fabulous classes, straight from the

U.S.A.

 

For those of you who haven’t seen his work, it’s cool, funky & lots of fun. You can check out the Rusty Pickle website on

                          http://www.rustypickle.com/

 Class 1

Monday 8^th June

Time: 1- 4pm

Cost : $65

 

This is a super cool black & silver 6x12” album.  Papers used are from the newly released “brass Knuckles” range and the album would be a great one to use for photos of teenagers especially, but also kids & young adults.. All product is included in the generous class kit, with lance providing his expert tuition free of charge!!

 

Class 2: Way Cool Pop Star Album

Date: Monday the 8^th June

Time: 5pm-8 or 9pm

Cost: $65

This album really is Way Cool! It’s a 6x12” Portrait orientation album, using the black & white Pop Star range of paper .  It’s full of doodling & color and is fun & bright, suitable to scrap all types of pictures. Once again, the cost is for the fabulous product pack, with free tuition by Lance!

 

At both classes, tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided and there will be a great Lucky Door Prize too.

So call the store to book into one or both awesome classes.

$10 dep will secure your place, with the balance due at the class.

 

We realize it’s the Queens Birthday long weekend, so hopefully that will meen a day off work, or hubby home enabling you to come & meet the famous Lance

Anderson

.

 

Happy Scrapping

Tracey & the Team @ The Imagination Factory

 

 

MAY UPDATE

We have so much news to share. Hmm. Where to start? Amazingly I have managed to post more frequently than previously. Only three weeks since last blog update, down from over a month last time! Still could be better I know, but at least we're heading in the right direction.

For those of you who are on our email list you will have already received our email newsletter, so bear with me if I am repeating myself. For those of you not on our email list that would like to be, simply send an email to imaginationfactory@bigpond.com and we will add you on!

CLASSES

June and July calendars are available in store already. They will be posted on the website over the next few days. There are still a couple of places left in tomorrow nights "Heidi Swapp" layout class. Check out the fabulous layout inspired by Heidi herself in the previous post under May Classes and if you're interested phone the store tomorrow to secure your spot.

INVITATIONS

We now stock a fabulous range of A4 card stock, specialty papers, vellum and embellishments specifically suited to invitation making. There are papers to suit all occasions and plenty of samples for inspiration.

THE FACTORY SUPREME

Designed by the super talented Fiona Leehane, The Factory Supreme is just like "Pizza with the Lot".

Included in the kit are enough card stock, patterned paper, thickers, mini alphas and embellishments to make 4 fabulous layouts. The kit comes with full colour instructions for all four layouts, and is priced at only $50. Check it out on the blog or in store now.

SEARCH FOR A DESIGN TEAM

The time has come for the Imagination Factory to find a design team. If you are original, creative, talented, passionate and looking for a challenge, then read on.

The successful applicants will hold their position for 12 months, commencing 1st July 2009. Each design team member will receive a product pack bi-monthly chosen by myself, with which to create layouts, cards, invitations, OTP to be displayed in the store for a period of time. Successful applicants will also be entitled to a store discount while a D.T member. Work will generally need to be completed within 2 weeks of receiving product pack.

If you would like to enter, then please submit 2 original layouts and either 1 card, invitation or OTP project to the imagination Factory in person by 5.30pm on Tuesday 9th June. All work must be original and not scraplifted or inspired by anyone else. Entries will be judged by the Imagination Factory staff and successful applicants notified before Saturday 13th of June. Full design team member job description is available in store. Good luck!!

CRICUT DEMO

We have some great special deals on cricut and cuttlebug machines running until the end of June. These are advertised in all the current Australian scrap booking magazines. If you are considering investing in a Cricut then keep an eye out for our upcoming free cricut demo. Date to be announced!

CROP NIGHTS

Our crop  nights are held alternate Friday nights from 6pm till midnight, and have been so popular lately that we have been fully booked weeks in advance.

With that in mind, could you please be considerate and let us know ASAP if you are booked in to a crop night and will be unable to attend. That will then enable someone on our waiting list to come along in your place.

 

That's all for now. Can't wait to see all your design team entries.

Happy scrapping   from Tracey and the team.

 

 

 

WINTER HAS ARRIVED

Well, not officially, but we have finally welcomed the arrival of some decent rainfall, and along with it some very chilly weather.  Good weather for staying indoors and scrapping, I say.

I feel very bad that it has been over a month since our last blog post, so I have made it my number one priority from here on to post more often!

OLD NEWS

Congratulations to Narelle, winner of the Imagination Factory monthly challenge – “scrap a page about yourself”  Narelle has won a $10 Imagination Factory gift voucher.  Thank you to all the ladies who entered.  There are still a couple of days to submit an entry into the April challenge.  Challenge packs are priced at a very affordable $10 and are due in by the 30^th April.  Good Luck!

NEW NEWS

We have been madly unpacking, pricing and displaying loads of new stock over the last few weeks.  Our favorites include Basic Greys two new ranges, Heidi Swapp Invisibles, Crate Papers three new ranges, and great new American Crafts papers and Thickers.

Over the next fortnight, we will be hopefully unveiling our gorgeous new range of invitation papers, matching cardstock, and envelopes, along with samples to give you a source of inspiration.

THE IMAGAINATION FACTORY SUPREME

Yes, it comes in a pizza box, but NO you can’t eat it!!  Designed by Ballarat's own Fiona Leehane, and exclusive to the Imagination Factory, this takes all the guesswork out of scrapping.  The Supreme includes loads of fully co-coordinated product, including cardstock, patterned paper, letter stickers, embellishments and full color instructions for four 12x12” layouts.  Check out this month’s supreme kit in store now!

APRIL CLASSES

Only a few places left for the Mothers Day address book – the perfect gift for mum (or to keep for yourself!)  Phone the store to book in.  This Wednesday evening or Thursday 30^th 11 – 1pm.

 

MAY CLASSES

CARD CLASSES

Make 3 gorgeous greeting cards with Julie, whilst learning valuable techniques that also come in handy for scrapbooking.

Date: Wednesday 13th May  Time: 7:00 – 9:00pm

Saturday 23^rd May Time 11am – 1pm

Cost $25

COLOUR THEORY with FIONA

Take part in one, several or all of Fiona’s Leehane’s color theory classes through out term 2.  Bring your own stash of the nominated color combination, and photos to match, and Fiona will guide you through making your very own original layouts.  More relaxed than a formal class, great for those wishing to use up some of their stash.

Date: Friday 1^st May  Time: 7:30 – 9:30pm Colors used-Green, Brown & Orange

Saturday 16^th May  Time: 11 – 1pm Colors used- TBA

Monday 26^th May  Time 10am –12 Colors used -TBA

Cost:  $15

CHILDRENS CLASS

Make a funky little trinket box complete with tiny concertina book inside.  Can also be made in a boy theme.  Painting is involved so please don’t wear good clothing, or bring a smock.

Date: Friday15^th May Time: 4:30-6pm

Cost $20

HEIDI SWAPP LAYOUT

Use the fantastic new Heidi Swapp masks along with Ranger Distress inks to make this pretty layout which would suit many different, family, love, or feminine themes.  Included in product pack is a set of 9 reusable masks, 4 mirrored birds, a complete set of thickers, patterned paper and lace ribbon.  Techniques learnt can then be applied to scrapbooking, card making, OTP and ATC’s

Date: Tuesday 19^th May Time 7 – 9pm

Cost $40

BASIC STAMP TECHNIQUE CLASS

For all those who want to know how to use the various inks and stamps this is a great class.  Learn the foundation techniques for stamping, including both dye and heat embossing, use of chalks, watercolors & pens, & stamping on a range of different surfaces.  Make a little sample book and two cards with the techniques learnt.

Date: 27^th May Time 6-8pm

Cost: $25

 

Photos of classes will be posted here soon, as they become available. If you are interested in any classes or wish to book in , please phone the store or call in. A $10 deposit is required to secure all bookings.

 

That's all for now. Happy scrapping,

From Tracey & the Team.