Scrapbook totes - I'm sooo confused!!!

I'm considering buying a scrapbook tote. I just got back from a crop and had to make 2 trips to the car with all of my "stuff"! I've heard good things about the CIS Navigator and/or XXL. Joann's normally carries this, but of course the store always seems to be out. They do have it online, but their regular price is more than in the store. Someone I know just bought a Generations tote from Michaels (with the 40% off coupon). Then, I was in Sam's Club this afternoon and they had a small rolling "suitcase" for around $30. It had at least six good sized pockets on the outside that could hold all that little stuff and looked big enough to hold 12x12 albums. I know Creative Memories also just came out with a tote, but they seem a little pricey. Soooo, any suggestions or opinions you have would be greatly appreciated! Thanks! Happy Scrappin'!

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"The world and each day in
it is a gift - no matter what
tomorrow may be."

You definetly need a tote girl! I have the CIS XXL and a Generations tote and I like them both they both would cost more than that $30 deal at Sams but I think you'd be a lot happier with one of them. You can always look on ebay, and like the ScrapAddict message board or two peas in a bucket to see if a fellow scrapper has one that they'd like to sell, I've seen quite a few at all of those sites. I know you can find one at Scrapbook.com store for $112 I think it's on sale so check there also. Did you ask Joanns for a raincheck or if they could get one from another store? Well, I hope that I helped you a little.
-Brooklyn

[This message has been edited by Brooklyn Clark (edited 07-26-2002).]

I have the Generations by Hazel tote, and I really like it! I could definitly use a bigger one (XXL), but after a lengthy discussion one night at a Scrapper Night, I went with the Generations. All the women who had the XXL said it was so big that when it is packed, it's very heavy to lift into the car! And, I have a mini-van so I have to lift it up pretty high. So, that's something to consider! Happy shopping!

Joanie

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--Wife to Doug
--SAHM to Andrew (9.27.99) and Adam (6.13.01)
--Go Phillies!!

I must agree with Joanie, the XXL can get really heavy, but it holds a lot. I do use my Generations tote a lot more now that I think about it, I think it holds the perfect amount for all that I need to take to a crop. I have friends though that don't have their own scrap space and so they have the XXL just to keep all there stuff in, I have a whole room so I don't have to worry about that thank goodness.

I have an online coupon good 7-21-02 to 8-10-02 for Joann.com. It is 40% off regular price of any 1 item. It looks like it will work once for anyone - promo code is TAB0721. I also have a free shipping for over $40 code (matter of fact it's the same one. ) States cannot be combined with other offers so you can't get both but it might be worth checking out.

I definitely love my CIS XXL! I am an on-the-go scrapper because I do not have much space to scrap at home (I really like to spread out!). It holds everything that I have with lots of room left over to expand into. I got mine at Michaels.com for $99 plus $7 shipping, which was the cheapest place I could find it new.

I was trying to decide between the Navigator and the XXL, but this is what really sold me on the XXL. Bear with me - I realize this is really sick, but I am an accountant and think in terms of numbers. I found the measurements of both which were posted somewhere and multiplied height by width and length to get the volume of each tote in cubic inches. It turns out that the XXL had 4 times as much space as the Navigator!! My husband also reminded me that it's better to start off with what you really want and/or need rather than settle and regret your choice later. I know this was sort of long-winded, but I hope it helps!

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Heather P

i have the navigator. sometimes i wish i had the xxl but then i remember i have to lift it! i'm happy with it, although i did sub-let out to a paper taker. i ordered mine through creativexpress (got a discount on it) and got flat rate shipping. hth.

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Keep Scrappin' Along
Shelley *Ü*

When I got started with scrapbooking earlier this year it was with CM. I never knew that there was all of this scrapbook stuff available. I thought that you could only get supplies from something like CM. So... I bought their memory mate bag, which holds all of my cutting tools, pens, and other stuff and has a three ring binder thing in the middle to hold whatever( I have sticker organizer pages in it). Its nice and has lots of pockets. I also have the album tote from CM. It holds the album that I am working on plus paper and lots of other stuff. I keep ALL of my SB stuff in both totes and they are easy to carry. Neither are that expensive, I actually got one free and the other almost free with credit that I got for holding a CM workshop in my home. I know that CM also has recently come out with several other more expanded totes.

Thank you everyone for your comments/suggestions. My DH got me the Navigator for my birthday! I'm so excited I can hardly wait to "roll" to my next crop! My 8 year old is now drooling over my CM bag that she will most likely "inherit"!

I also have an 8year old (well almost and she was so jealous of my bags! So I got her a generations one that I found on clearance at Walmart (60%off) and she thinks it is just wonderful, I am so happy that she loves paper,pens,punches and all the wonderful things that I do! I guess I really did give birth to my best friend! LOL (you know that saying)

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Brooklyn-
The best things you can give children, next to good habits, are good memories. So get to scrappin!

I love my generations, but I also love my Zag cart (I use the insert from the bottom seperately to hold sizzix dies and thus the bottom holds 12*12 paper and albums too!) it was only 25$, walmart, sams and Meijers all carry it and its great... its a hardware toolbox on wheels.. but does its duty perfectly- I use it for scrapshops normally, and the crop station for going to crops, but sometimes I reverse taht or pack differently depending on where I'm going and what I need to have with me.