Company History by Carolee McMullin

Everyone wishes they had a crystal ball to see enough into the future that they could prepare, change courses, or get really excited about what's ahead. When I began my home-grown business, if I had known what the future held, I would have not believed any of it!

I was a young mother when my husband decided he wanted to move to an agricultural area for farming. So we packed up and moved 100 miles away from our hometown of South Jordan, Utah to Cache Valley in northern Utah and the small town of Smithfield.

Soon after we settled in Smithfield, I read in the local paper that Utah State University was holding a tole-painting conference, so I signed up. At the conference, I discovered an art form that I enjoyed and was good at. By third year I was teaching at the conference. Soon after, a local craft shop offered painting classes. Again, I took a couple of classes and before I knew it they asked me to teach. I had taken art in high school and college and loved to share my talent and enjoy the talents of others. I started these classes to get to know people in my new community, but soon realized I had found my passion in life.

Within a year 1985 I was teaching and publishing and had my own company named "Country Tole and Craft." I loved meeting gals from all over the United States as I taught at workshops and conventions. At that time, I published my first book of tole-painting patterns with Provo Craft.

In 1995, Bill Stephens and I worked on a project to create clipart CD-ROMs. This was a new concept for use on home computers. Bill invited me to a convention with his company Global Design to market the clipart. Before the convention, Bill asked me to bring along some new products, so I decided to make scrapbook paper. I had learned from my painting book ladies in Provo, Utah that people were creating scrapbook pages by painting the art in my tole-painting books and then cutting it out and using it on their layouts. This was a new concept, but I knew it was growing because at about the same time my mother-in-law Jackie McMullin began making scrapbook pages and inviting my daughter Georgana to join her during 'grandma visits'. The only product available for these scrapbook pages was from office supply stores (construction paper, stickers), so we were starting something new.

We went to our first convention (HIA in Las Vegas) as "Carolee's Creations" and only 12 stores ordered. Or product didn't fit stamping and card-making and stores said, "We think scrapbooking is just a fad and we're nervous to give it shelf space." Slowly, however, businesses began to cater to customers who wanted to make scrapbooks, and the first scrapbook stores came into being.

I appreciate those companies who supported me during my first years because we were starting an industry together. Our nation is blessed with small businesses who have dreams…businesses who desire to teach, preserve family memories, and improve lifestyles. All of them were family-owned businesses such as craft shops and in-home shops. I believe in supporting these independent specialty retailers. They are the pioneers who built our industry. As larger companies come in, it's important we all support those specialty stores who bring new innovation, nurture beginners, and support advanced scrappers.

We take pride in our original ideas that added spice to the first scrapbook pages. As time went on, we developed themed papers, the first cut outs, colored metal accents and brads, innovative word papers, and one-inch word ribbon.

As we looked into our crystal ball we had no idea the industry would come so far. At times it overwhelms me and even makes me sad that I can't keep a personal relationship with each scrapbook store, as well as friendships with customers like we once did and always have. This is still an industry that is built on friendships. As the industry continues to grow, we hope we don't lose that touch.

What do we want to be known for? We want to be the small homegrown, hometown company. We want to be your friendly neighbor. We want to be (and are) a woman-run company. We want to continue to provide scrapbookers with products that are fresh, innovative, and creative.