Inchies have grown - welcome Twinchies!

We didn't realize when we scheduled this final Learn at Lunch of 2009 featuring "Inchies" that we would also get to introduce NEW product. I love it when a plan comes together! Now, from the makers of Inchies, come play with Twinchies - 2" squares! I love how Jenn incorporated both into this adorable Christmas card. Stop in Tuesday from 12-2 and play with Inchies and Twinchies and also check out the new colors - you're no longer "stuck" with black and white! The demo is FREE and no registration is required. Take a breather from your last minute holiday preparations to come play with us!

Snow Day

Guest blogger Laura here. For some reason Blogger isn't letting me upload a picture. So, I am just going to post that we are closed today (Saturday, Dec 19th) because of the snow. Who knew we would be under a blizzard watch today?! We are moving the special new-release Hero Arts Make and Take to Tuesday, Dec 22nd from 10am-8pm. Stay warm and safe everyone!

New Hero Arts for 2010

The Hero Arts 2010 catalog has arrived along with dozens of wood mounted, cling and clear stamps that are all new this year! To celebrate, we are hosting our final FREE make-and-take of 2009 this Saturday from 10-4. Stop in and make this adorable card, pick up a catalog for inspiration and a shopping list, and maybe grab a few stamps for your stocking! We purchased all of the pre-buys that Hero put together, but they don't send every single stamp in the catalog, so let us know what additional stamps you'd like to have, and we'll place an order before we close for the holidays. Hope to see you Saturday!

Oh Christmas Tree!

Last week's make-and-take card featured a non-traditional Christmas color in a monochromatic scheme. This week, we're still playing with non-traditional colors, but with lots of them! This card features a tree from Savvy stamps and paper "left over" from fall! I'm sure you have some paper at home that was intended for one thing could could be used for another - we LOVE to recycle, renew, reuse! (Plus, it makes room to buy more paper!)

Stop by and get inspired! Remember, this is the last Thursday make-and-take of the year. Next Thursday is Christmas Eve (already!) and we will be open from 10-1 for last minute shoppers, but with no make-and-take. There will, however, be a free make-and-take this Saturday, December 19, featuring all new stamps from Hero Arts. Hope you can find a minute to join us!

Let it Shine, Let it Shine, Let it Shine!

Winter is a time for all things shimmery and sparkley! It's hard to tell in a photograph, but this entire card just twinkles. Jenn used a product that has long been known to fabric artists - All Purpose Ink - in a variety of ways suited to paper. She used it directly out of the bottle (both on the paper and also directly onto the stamp) and she mixed it with Ink Potion #9 to create sprays for marvelous backgrounds. All Purpose Ink is highly metallic, but unlike glitter, it's contained :-) Come join the fun tomorrow (Tuesday) from 12-2.

It's handmade, so it counts!

This post isn't about papercrafting, but you'll thank me for it anyway! At Girl's Night Out last night (which if you've never attended, you're really missing out - it's a great opportunity to get stuff done and eat yummy snacks!), Shauna brought an amazing dessert to share that we all wanted the recipe for. She emailed it to me and suggested I post it for all to see - so here it is! (By the way, the next Girl's Night Out is January 15, and spaces are limited.)

Sopaipilla Cheesecake
2 - 8 ozs Cream cheese (I like the whipped)
2 - 8 ozs Crescent rolls
1 cup sugar
1 t. vanilla or almond
1/2 c. melted butter
1/2 cup sugar with 1 t. cinnamon for topping.

Line 9x13 pan with 1 pkg. crescent rolls.
Flatten and pinch together.
Mix cream cheese with 1 c. sugar and vanilla.
Spread over rolls
Put 2nd crescent roll on top
Pour melted butter over all and sprinkle with cinnamon/sugar mixture.

Bake 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes!

Every day is a gift....

...so unwrap it! Marilynn didn't intend for the card to look like a present, so maybe it's just my wishful thinking. Thursday's FREE make-and-take features a Hero Arts cling background stamp. While these stamps are often used as background images, they are so pretty that they make nice focal points as well (as used in this card). I love the little scallop accent at the bottom, created with the Fiskars Scallop Border punch. I also love that Marilynn chose non-traditional colors for this Christmas card.

Speaking of Hero Arts, they are releasing their NEW 2010 catalog and dozens of new wood-mounted, cling and clear stamps to a handful of stores before the end of this year. We expect to receive about 10 boxes of goodies and have them unpacked and ready for your shopping pleasure by Saturday, December 19. Stop in and take a look! And let us know if you'd like us to reserve one of the catalogs for you. They make wonderful wish lists and are filled with card samples and layouts to inspire you!

Here's the score!

Our Learn at Lunch demo on Tuesday focuses on all of the fun things you can do with a Scor-it Board! It's wonderful for scoring your cards and accordion folds, but it's also great for decorative embossing. Make frames and straight embossed lines or use the sliding ruler tool to create diagonals (like the one pictured). Score them on white core paper, then scruff off the color. It looks awesome! Or lightly brush ink over the score lines for a more vintage look. Jenn will also show you how to use the Scor-it Envelope maker for creating your own matching envelopes. Lots to see and all for FREE (a little poetry for you). Stop in between 12 - 2 to find out more!

It's a Joy!

I have a friend named Joy who loves this time of year when she sees her name everywhere she looks. She will LOVE this card! Thursday's free make and take features a Rubber Stamp Tapestry set. We often think of their peg stamps as making nice borders and frames, but they make a nice focal point with accent as well. And, I love how Marilynn used just a hint of the satin ribbon. This is an economical way to get that texture and feel without having to wrap the entire card. Stop in Thursday and make one for yourself. Also, check out the other samples Marilynn made using this set and ribbon - wonderful variations on a theme!

Seaside Stampin' Ink is coming

Doesn't this look like fun?! That's Kathy (seated) in the booth that they take to trade shows. Look at all of that fun stuff!!! Kathy and Joe will be here for our Holiday Open House on Saturday, December 5, and they will have their entire booth (just like you see here, except with YOU standing there instead of these strangers). Kathy will be demoing dozens of things you can do with a Spritz bottle. It promises to be fun, fun, fun! During Kathy's demo lunch break from 12:30 - 1:30, my quartet will be singing holiday songs for your shopping pleasure. Also fun, fun, fun! Get more details about our make-and-takes and our community outreach on our web site. We hope to see you there!