Shop Hop Stop #15: Sonja's Scrapbook Spot

A special selection of paper made with Banana Leaf, & ribbons that looked like silk

Day 9, Stop# 15 - Sonja's Scrapbook Spot - Themed: Thailand

Awhile ago, when Tommy and I went to Howard Hughes Center to watch a movie, we decided to walk around area to see what kind of shops were there. We came across Sonja's Scrapbook Spot. That time, it was during the Christmas Holidays and they were not opened. I had this store in my mind and hope that I would go in there to shop if we ever head back to Howard Hughes to watch a movie. With the Shop Hop, it was even better! :) I didn't have to wait until my hunnie and I go to watch a movie (it's really out of the way).

When I walked in, I was greeted by the friendly store owner. She offered us Thai Ice Tea and roasted peanuts with sweet and spicy sauce. I was most attracted about at her store was the specialty papers that she was selling. Because her theme was Thailand, she tried to incorporate papers and embellishments that could represent Thailand. It was pretty cool I picked up some papers that were made out of banana leaves and got some papers that were made from Thailand. She told me that she had papers that were made from Elephant dungs as well. It was quite interesting.

I bought some ribbons that had a different texture. She told me she was looking for ribbons that looked like silk. The ribbons were colorful and pretty. When I saw them, I couldn't help but bought a bunch of ribbons in different colors! :)

Bottle cap from Thailand

She showcased her scrapbook of her Thailand trip. It was pretty cool. She told me that she spent about a month and a half in Thailand! Her experience and memories were all gathered into the scrapbook. Her scrapbook totally made me want to travel more to explore different places around the world! I focus my scrapbook on my travel, to see someone else sharing her scrapbook for her travel as well, that's pretty cool. :)

Follow me to my next stop...

*Note: My blog is not sponsored by anyone. It is a shopping experience that I like to share to you and like to share the products I purchased.

Shop Hop Stop #14: Collective Journey

Ribbons & Embellishments, we even won some prizes!

Day 8, Stop #14 - Collective Journey - Themed Destination: Township of Mayberry, IL

I admit, this one was an unplanned one. I wasn't thinking about heading to Redlands. Although I would love to go to all 40 stores, I knew I wouldn't be able to do all. I really felt bad having Tommy to be my driver to drive me around. He surely made me really happy when I decided that we should head to Collective Journey to check out the store and buy some goodies!

The major reason that I didn't plan on coming here because it was just further out. However, after a shop hop stop at Scrapbook Cafe, I decided to go. When we first entered the store, there were carnival booths set up in the front. My first impression of the store was big, organized and clean. The store was well maintained with a lot of merchandise packed around the store!

Not only did they sell scrapbook products, they also sold gift items. They had an old fashion candy counter filled with candies! That was pretty cool. Just like all other stores, I took my time to walk around to see what I liked and see what would catch my eyes to buy to expand my collections.

I found some cute butterflies embellishments and couldn't resist to give them up. I bought them. Besides, I have alot of flowers at home already. It's nice to have something different to add onto my collection. :) I have so much flowers, I continue to buy them! I picked up some more ribbons as well.

I got a free Make N' Take and decided to get the 2nd page additional page as the two layouts were so cute and adorable! I also got the the bottle cap to add onto my collection. The bottle cap is cute too! It looked like a county fair prize ribbon!

Thinking outside the box, the bottle cap looks like a prize ribbon! :)

Although Redlands is a bit further out from when I am, I was glad I came here. The store is big and neatly organized! We even won some prizes at the coin toss booth! That was pretty cool! After we left, Tommy and I decided to find a place to eat around the area. We went to Eureka! Burger for dinner. We ordered a Beet Salad, Fig Marmalade Burger and had Sweet Potato Fries.

Come back soon for Stop#15 to see where we headed to! :)

*Note: My blog is not sponsored by anyone. It is a shopping experience that I like to share to you and like to share the products I purchased.

Shop Hop Stop #13: Hearts-N-Crafts

Buttons!

After a trip to Chino Hills, we headed to Covina to stop by to Hearts-N-Crafts for Stop#13. Good thing they closed late so we could route our way to come here. Hearts-N-Crafts is located at Old Town Covina. It felt like I was back in time when we were driving down the street. I was pretty surprised there's so many places I had never seen with a cute town charm. I am so used to seeing commericalized buildings that I often forget the small, old town charm. It's great to see different places and open my eyes and mind to explore.

When I first walked into the store, I found myself a bit lost. The store was pretty big. I took my time walking around the store to see what I liked. I decided to buy some buttons and stock up on the 3D foams. I love using the 3D foams as it adds dimension to my pages. :) I picked up both pages of the Make N' Take and purchased the bottle cap. There were several style of bottle cap design. With choices, I tend to stood there at the register and became indecisive! I just didn't know what I wanted. In the end, I chose one.

Themed destination: Washington D.C.

What I liked about this store was that it had a home feel. The ladies were friendly. The store was big and neatly organized.

After shopping, Tommy and I decided to stop by to Buffalo Wild Wings in West Covina to have dinner. We shared wings and sliders!

*Note: My blog is not sponsored by anyone. It is a shopping experience that I like to share to you and like to share the products I purchased.

Shop Hop Stop #12: This N That

Aloha!

Day 7, Shop Hop Stop #12, after work, I decided to head to This N' That over in Chino Hills. I was thinking about driving there by myself until Tommy asked me where I was going. He decided to come along as long as I drive myself over to his house! Besides, I hadn't seen him for days since he went to Las Vegas for the trade show. I didn't mind having him be my driver to drive me to places.

This store is located next to Stater Bros. When we drove into the plaza, parked, I was confused because I didn't do my research before coming here. I couldn't find the store! I checked their website to double check the address. Then, I realized that part of the store is a dry cleaner!

I took my time walking around the store. I decided to buy the sander as I recently bought some cardstocks that I could sand to reveal a different color. I wanted to do something else other than tearing the cardstock. They had cardstocks on sale. I always find myself picking up more papers. Eventually, I will make use of it, someday. I also bought a Copic liner pen. I am not sure what to do with it yet. I am hoping that I will be able to learn to use Copics in my future projects.

I got a free Make N' Take and decided to buy the second page. I also bought the bottle cap to add onto my collection.

Bottle Cap says it all for the themed destination: Hawaii!

While I was shopping, the owner was really nice and friendly. She showed me around her store, recommended me some products, and showed me some of the classes that they were offering. I had a short chat with her while I was paying at the register. I learned from her that not only she owned the scrapbook store, the dry cleaners was also hers. They also do FedEx, copying, bill pay, etc! I was quite surprised. I actually learned a few things coming to this store. I learned that owning a business is not easy and becoming a successful business owner is hard work. It looks easy, but there's strategic planning. I also learned that you follow passion, everything will work out in a strange way. I hope, some day, I will be a business owner and open a business that I am passionate about and enjoy doing everyday.

*Note: My blog is not sponsored by anyone. It is a shopping experience that I like to share to you and like to share the products I purchased.

Shop Hop Stop #11: Scrapbook Cafe

Inspirations: Pins!

Day 6 of Shop Hop, I decided to have a quick lunch at work and head to Scrapbook Cafe. It turned out this store was also close by to my work. The store is located at Old Town Puente Hills. The street is quiet, not very busy.

When I first entered the store, it was neatly organized. There were some really nice scrapbook layouts and cards on display around the store. I was inspired by some of the them as well. The way they used the pins, I was sold and had to buy some pins home to put them onto my layouts! I am always learning something new!

I also purchased a bottle cap to add onto my ongoing collections of Shop Hop. I got a free Make N' Take and decided not to buy the additional add on pages.

Bottle cap from Scrapbook Cafe!

I think this store is ran by husband and wife. When I was there, the husband's mom was also at the store. She's very nice and easy to talk to. We chatted while I was at the cash register. She recommended me that I should consider checking out Collective Journey at Redlands if I had some time. She said they had a Country Fair Carnival theme at the store.

Until next time...

*Note: My blog is not sponsored by anyone. It is a shopping experience that I like to share to you and like to share the products I purchased.

Shop Hop Stop #10: Scraparazzi

Lots of travel papers to choose from at Scraparazzi!

After my adventure at ScrapbookLand, I went on a driving adventure to Whittier! Oh my, the view was amazing! I had to drive through hills to get through Whittier. It was quite interesting actually. I am more amazed at myself that I didn't get lost! That day, I realized that driving to places I had never been wasn't so bad afterall. I could actually do it without the help of Tommy around.

My Stop #10 was Scraparazzi. The themed destination was Hong Kong. I was particular interested in this one, mainly because I was born and raised in Hong Kong until 8 years old before moving to the US. I wanted to see how they decorated their store. When I first entered the store, the girls were all dressed in an Asian red top, with hair tied into a bun and decorated with a chopstick. The store was decorated with red paper umbrellas. It was cute. They had a Photo Op in the back.

There were a large selection of specialty papers that were travel related. I visited Vancouver, Seattle and Portland this year. I found some Canada related specialty papers, I decided to buy them for my future travel scrapbook. The store also had a great selection of cardstocks as well. There were so many, it was difficult for me to choose!

Many bottle caps design to choose from! They surely made it difficult for me!

I got a free Make N' Take and decided to buy the complimentary layout. The Make N' Take were quite interesting because I had never thought how simple the red envelopes could be used as decoration. Looks like I know what I will be doing with all my red envelopes that I collected for years! I also purchased the bottle cap. Boy, that was a difficult task. When they handed me a tray to pick one, it turned out every single bottle cap I picked up, all their designs were different! I eventually picked one after standing the counter for a long period of time.

Stay tuned for my next Shop Hop adventure!

*Note: My blog is not sponsored by anyone. It is a shopping experience that I like to share to you and like to share the products I purchased.

Shop Hop Stop #9: ScrapbookLand

Embellishments Galore!

Shop Hop Day# 5 (Tuesday), Shop #9

Store: ScrapbookLand

Theme: Margaritaville

After my Sunday Shop Hop, I didn't get a chance to do any shop hopping as I was too tired from work. The great thing about doing a Shop Hop event is that I encountered new local scrapbook stores around the area that I never knew about. ScrapbookLand is another hidden gem on my list!

This store is closed by to my work! After work, I drove to ScrapbookLand. Be careful though, depending where you are heading on Colima, you may miss the store! The store is located in a 'L" shape plaza and the store is located right at the corner of where the 2 lines meet. I didn't even know I drove past it until later on. I found the store coming back the other way. Hopefully they will put on a beautiful sign some day right in front of the building to get more visibility! Nonetheless, it won't stop me from coming to this store! This is now the official go to place after work to pick up materials!

My store was decent sized. The store was neatly organized. I love a neatly organized store! It makes shopping that much easier for my eyes. Just like other stores, I took my time walking around the store to see what caught my eyes.

They had a good selections of ribbons. They were organized in different racks by colors. There were many pretty ribbons to choose from, but I could only get so many! I got a free 6x6 Make N' Take and a free bottle cap. Because the Make N' Take were so cute, I decided to buy the second complimentary second page.

It's nice to have a margarita about now...

Although I missed the building in the beginning, I was glad I found the place! I am definitely coming back here more often to pick up my essentials if needed. Of course, with stress from work, it is a good place for me to come here to wind down if needed to. :)

Where did I go after ScrapbookLand?

*Note: My blog is not sponsored by anyone. It is a shopping experience that I like to share to you and like to share the products I purchased.