Craft Store #3: Beautiful Impressions, LLC

http://www.beautiful-impressions.com/

Love these flowers.

 I had a list when I started and here I was at the third store and I really hadn't crossed off too many items from my list. I was looking for Dave stamps and dies that were coming out for Christmas 2011. Apparently, I was hearing from all the store owners that I was  a week early. Ugh!

Bought this stamp.

Lots of goodies.

I did find lots of dies that I didn't have and bits and bobs that I liked, but, I was somewhat discouraged.I was also finding that I have a huge inventory at home, as Gary says I rival many stores.

Beautiful Impressions was an old home that had little rooms stuffed with goodies. I bought my first Twinkling  H2O's and a Northwoods Rubber Stamp (above).  There were lots of examples of these stamps- beautifully colored.

The staff was very helpful. The store also serves ice cream in the summer months. my kinda place. Westbrook is located along the shore of CT and so it is worth a trip there for the water sights, too.

Lots of small rooms.

Craft Store #2 : Inspiration Station...

http://www.the-inspiration-station.com/
Inspiration Station is the furthest away of the 4 stores. The store is misleading from the outside; it is much larger than I thought, well organized and well lit.The staff keeps a fabulous assortment of 12" x 12" patterned paper from all the popular companies and has all the matching doo-dads right there. The look is very cheerful.

Store # 2 for me.

Everything laid out well.

All was colorfully laid out with great examples.

Looking back toward the front door.

More Tim.

Tim Holtz and other dies

Tim samples.

Stamps in the middle of the store.

Big crafting/classroom in back.

 Love all this     stuff.
            There is a section that has lots of  dies and embellies  for Tim H. and some 7 Gypies stuff. I bought a couple of things that I want to turn into Christmas presents- not for me.They have a smallish area for stamps and a really nice area for classes.

Even though the store is further away, it is closer by several hours than Buffalo and there is a Cabela's Sporting Goods Store close to it for my other half.  I have signed up for announcements of classes and guest teachers, etc. so I may be back to visit any or all of them soon.