Death of an adhesive....

When you get an email saying a product is going to be discontinued, normally you probably feel sad for the first 30 seconds and then you move on with your life.  Now, if that were a scrapbook product, you'd probably find 10 other companies that make the same thing and have no problem finding a replacement.

When I got the email from my supplier saying Kokuyo was no longer manufacturing their fabulous adhesives, I was devastated.  I love this adhesive.  I've always had issues with adhesives and I was one of those people that would hit up Michaels or any other store looking for the perfect one.

I found 100 different kinds and none of them ever seemed to work.  Those Hermafix Squares - I fought with those stupid little squares.  My roller never seemed to work right so I had to peel them off by hand.  I'd find them in places they shouldn't be.  

Then there was another roller square product - can't think of the name.  They came in a box on a roll.  You peeled them off the backing and put them on your product.  Then there was another backing to pull off.  Unless you had some special tool to pry that second backing off, you were fighting with that too.

Then I tried Tombow.  If you want something to stay stuck, don't use the Tombow.  (I hear they have updated the adhesive and it actually works.  Not in the mood to test that theory.)

On and on, I went, plowing through at least 10 more adhesives including Glue Dots and Zots.  Man, do THOSE end up in places you never imagined.  Poor Rascal had them in his fur and I found one on my chest.  Yep, never scrap in a tank top when you're using Glue Dots.....

And then, while perusing blogs one day, I came across Ali Edwards blog where someone from Japan sent her a few of these new adhesive rollers.  Something Kookiyo.... Kookoy.....oh yeah - KOKUYO!

Man were they hard to find in the US at first.  But once Ali mentioned them, it only took a few weeks for them to start showing up everywhere!  I pounced.  If ALI said they worked, they were worth a try.  

My first roller arrived in the mail.  I only bought one.  No sense in stocking up on something that may NOT work.  It was like heaven.  The adhesive rolled on so easily, stayed on and oh my gosh!  My product was still adhered to the page when I got up the next morning.  (*cough*Tombow*cough*)  I did another page and oops!  I didn't like the picture where it was.  I gently lifted the picture and moved it.  The little bit of adhesive that was stuck to the paper just rubbed right off.  Like magic.  It just rubbed away.  No evidence found.  No Un Du, no Goo Be Gone, just a rub of the finger and it was gone.

Wow.  I had to have more.  On my eternal quest to find more, I noticed more stores were carrying it, including my local store.  Yeah!

Now imagine how excited I was when I opened my store and was able to purchase this stuff wholesale.  Can you see my gleaming smile through the internet?

My mother loves the Tape n Roller while I prefer the Dot n Roller.  So while stocking the store, I purchased a few cases of this stuff for us.  Nothing like having a nice back stock of adhesive right?

So when that fateful email arrived in my inbox, I shuddered.  'PLEASE READ IMMEDIATELY'.  Those words jumped out at me.  I immediately logged into my account and tried to order some but they were already sold out.  I hit up 2 more suppliers and nothing.

I hit online stores.  Gone.  Word spread like wildfire and there were even posts on other message boards about it.  People helping others find this elusive adhesive.  People wondering what to do, what to use next.

Sure I have my trusty ATG gun but lugging around 6 pounds of military strength adhesive is not suitable for crops and such.  Its a bit hard to handle at times and a lot less savvy than my Kokuyo.  

My favorite color is blue.  Not pink, blue.  So when tools and things come out in pink, I shudder.  Why?  Just because every scrapper is a woman, does not mean every tool should come in pink.  Pink does not = Female.  We like other colors.  And my cool little BLUE Kokuyo was so cool.  It was like they were thinking of me when they made it.  My very own blue tool.

The refills were so easy to pop in.  Just pull the old one out and pop the new one in.  There was never an issue with goo buildup.  No clogging.  No tearing.  

I finally found a source.  They still had some left.  I quickly snapped up several (okay 100) refills.  I'm in a state of denial and will be until those last refills are used up.  I use less now, taking great care how much I apply.  I can't be quick to use it because its gone.  

No more Kokuyo.  It was even a cool name to say.  Kokuyo.  Kokuyo.  Kokuyo.

Its a sad day when a scrapper hugs a box of adhesives and my husband might be ready to commit me.  The thing of it is, this WAS a great adhesive.  I say 'was' because it is no more.  If you never tried it, you missed out.   If you own some, hoard it.  If you can find it anywhere, hoard it.

As word spreads, I'm reading more and more about the love for this adhesive online.  Personal blogs make up the vast obituary for this grand adhesive.

Kokuyo lovers, this is for you.  I'm printing out the blog posts that discuss the need and want for the product as well as the message board posts and sending them to Kokuyo.  They need to know what a great product they discontinued - all for some office supplies.

I'm off to hug my adhesive before I go to bed.

Making Memories

And then this is the one where I win.  I taped the first winner drawn and she didn't respond so they drew another number.  Mine.

I figured what I had recorded up to this point was good enough so halfway through this, I *thought* I had turned the Flip off.  But it was still recording.  So the second half of this video is all butts.  Sorry.

If you get motion sickness, I don't recommend watching.  Instead, just listen.  The crazy lady who screams at the end......is me.  

Tim Holtz Make n Take

My Minds Eye Booth

CHA VIdeo - October Afternoon Booth

A quick video of the OA booth and Make'n'Take.

CHA Day 3

By now, we know our way around.  We've figured out the parking and shuttle schedules.

Off to the show!

Today is for Make 'n' Takes and more ordering.  I picked up more catalogs and placed more orders.  Oh, and more giveaways were collected today.....  (hint hint)

I check in on the blog to make sure the posts are looking good.  So far, the Design Team is really making you drool over the new stuff.  I'm so glad you guys are excited about the new releases!

More MNT's, more orders, stop for lunch, and repeat!

Then its time for the 2 pm Making Memories Slice giveaway.  I was so busy ordering product at the My Minds Eye booth (had to have it ALL) that we missed it the day before.  By the way, if you haven't seen the eye candy from MME, you'll need to look out for my video.  Not only are their products fun, but they send out the men to sell their products.  Men.  This booth is all male.  One of them even looks like Josh Hartnett.  So to say we were drooling in this booth would be an understandment.  We were drooling over the papers.  Yeah.  Thats it.

Anyway, back to the Slice.  So we headed over to the MM Booth to get our raffle tickets and get as close to the podium as possible for the raffle.  Its always a good time in the MM booth when they do this.  You can see some of the excitement on their blog.  I think the entire show floor heads to the MM booth for this.

Wouldn't you know, the film cameras are there filming for the CHA site.  

Lights, Camera, Action!

They are giving away 5 Slices and if we're loud enough, they'll give away more.  So the crowd goes WILD!

I'm taking video using my Flip camera (love this thing!)  I figure getting 2 or 3 of the winners on video is enough to give you an idea of the buzz, right?

Thinking I had turned off the camera, I focus on my raffle ticket.  As they get ready to call the next number, they kick over the bucket of tickets and they all fall on the floor.  Panic ensues as they gather the tickets and pick one.  613417.  Darn!  I'm 613419.  Michelle has 613418.  How close, right?

Last call for 613417.  No one claims it so they pull another ticket.  You can tell by the look on their faces that the next ticket is.....well....close to the first ticket.  So the crowd goes wild guessing the new number.  6.......1.........3..........4...........1...................

........9.

I still have no idea its me until Michelle says 'Thats you!'.  Then I scream like a little girl.  All of this is caught on video except that its just sound.  What you see in the video are peoples rear ends and chests.  I thought the camera was off all the while it was still taping as it dangled from my wrist.  So you can *hear* all of this going on in the background but you can't see it.  Which is probably a good thing because I screamed really loud and if the camera had caught that..... well, you might not like me very much.

So here is that lovely video footage from the Slice giveaway.

Oh and yes, the Slice WILL be given away - I'm still thinking of a promotion for it.  Its the brand new Pink Slice that retails for $180.  It comes with 2 cartridges.  If you are interested in purchasing the new Slice, new cards or any of the older cards, please email me.  I will be happy to special order any Slice supplies.

CHA Day 1 & 2

Monday I headed to the airport nice and early. I wanted to get to Orlando quick and if I had superpowers, I would have flown myself.

One stopover in Phoenix and then on to Orlando. I made it in early and waited for my cousin, Michelle. (Sadly, neither one of us got pictures of us together the entire time!)

When she got there, we headed to the resort. She's a Disney Vacation Club owner so I got treated to some Southern Disney hospitality. We stayed at the Old Key West Resort. All I can say is - awesome! This place had the feel of Key West and the grounds were gorgeous!

No plain jane hotel for me this year! I could live in this place!

Anyway, we had a late dinner and then headed off to bed to get ready for the next day. Michelle had never been to CHA so I was a little more excited than usual. I got a chance to show a newbie around. Usually, I'm squealing to myself since I'm alone at the Summer shows. This year, I got to share it all with another person who loves this hobby as much as I do.

The first day, we ran from booth to booth looking at new products, talking to the manufacturers, placing orders and doing Make'n'Takes.

I had a rolling bag full of catalogs and samples. Yes, I said SAMPLES!! New papers, new Distress Stickles, new Glimmer Mists...... New new new. Does that make you happy? There will be chances to win all of this stuff. I even have all 4 NEW Basic Grey lines that you can win, but you'll have to stay tuned for that!

We stopped for a quick bite to eat and then back to the show. While it was smaller this year, it was nicer. I got a chance to really meet with the manufacturers without feeling pressured to move on and let someone else have a chance. I got more video this time around too.

By the way, videos and pictures will be posted sometime this weekend. I have almost 800 pictures that I need to edit and videos I need to edit. Working on those in between filling your orders! Man, you ladies love to shop!

With a full day of shopping behind us, we headed out to dinner and hit a local scrapbook store.

Now, I'm a sucker for restaurants so I love to eat at places I can't find at home. So when I'm in the area, Cracker Barrel and Steak n Shake are two of my faves.

This is where the internet just failed on me. After dinner, I uploaded all of the days photos to the laptop and the internet connection just wasn't enough for me to upload them! Grrrrrr.......

Off to bed. Another long day tomorrow.

Stay tuned for Day 2 updates.