No Make-and-Take Card Thursday!

Marilynn, head elf in charge of Thursday make-and-takes, feared that if she made a really great card for tomorrow, and many of you couldn't come because of travel, holiday preparations, etc., you would be frustrated. And if she made an "average" card, those of you who did come in would be mad :-) So we all agreed to skip this Thursday and resume our FREE make-and-take cards in the New Year. We hope you will join us on January 6! Meanwhile everyone here at the Happy Stamper wishes you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year!

Flexibility is the key!

Tuesday's demo features a very practical tool - the Bo Bunny Flexible Ruler! It will bend into virtually any design, and then hold its shape until you change it. Fabulous for making patterns quickly and easily! Join Jenn Tuesday between 12 - 2 and see how easy it is to use! It will quickly become one of your go-to tools! This is our last Learn at Lunch for 2010! In 2011, we will have the same great lunchtime demo, but it will have a new name - Technique Tag Tuesday. You can use the tags on the fronts of cards or as bookmarks, or you can keep your collection of tags as a fabulous reference tool - your choice! We hope you'll be able to join us often throughout the year, and we thank you for your support in 2010!

Great Gift Card

Somebunny had a very clever idea for this card! Marilynn took one of the puff balls that are typically used for applying Pebbles Chalks and turned it into the tail of the bunny. What a cute and clever idea! I like the versatility of this card - use it for Christmas, birthday, baby....or to thank someone for a gift you have received. The possibilities are endless! Stop in Thursday and make one for yourself.

Hero Arts Winners & Demo

Thanks to everyone who left comments over the weekend. Our Blog Candy winners are Mary Ann T., Ingrid and Elizabeth H. We have prizes with your name on them behind the counter, so please ask the next time you're in the shop! Of course, everyone's a winner with our Tuesday Learn at Lunch demos. Jenn has created this adorable tag featuring several of the new products just released as part of the Hero Arts 2011 catalog program! Stop in between 12 & 2 tomorrow and make one for yourself. Also, take a look at the brand new catalog (they have all finally arrived as of this morning) for more inspiration. Now that the weather is turning brutally cold, there's nothing better than to hunker down inside with some brand new stamps to play!

Blog Candy - Hero Arts 2011!

This is one of our favorite times of the year. Box after box arrives at the store with product that even we have never seen! Hero Arts does the largest product release of any company we know, and we have it right now! (The 5 boxes of catalogs should hopefully arrive today, but the stamps are here). This year, Hero as been very generous with the sneak peeks. If you haven't been following their blog, take a look at this fun video. Each of their artists, including our friend Jennifer McGuire, shows you their favorite new stamp. Fun! Take a look and then leave a comment with the stamp that is your favorite (you can also visit the shop for a close up look at the stamps). I'll be choosing three of the comments randomly for some fun Hero Arts prizes. I'll announce the winners on Monday here on the blog. I can't wait to hear what you think!

Home for the Holidays!

This new clear stamp collection from The Paper Company really lets you set the scene for Christmas! Marilynn used the spotlighting technique to focus on the house decorated for the holidays. I LOVE this set. It sells for only $8 and includes not only the images that you see here but also 3 additional houses! Stop in Thursday between 10 & 8 and make one for yourself. You'll see how much fun it is to create your very own winter wonderland!

Keeping you in Stitches!

Have you tried the new Sew Easy tool from We R Memory Keepers? It is so much fun! It consists of a handle with exchangeable rolling nibs that create different patterns for stitching. Simply roll it along, and it makes perfect holes, ready for stitching! Jenn stitched the bottom row with floss, but along the top, she simply used a white pen to draw stitches between the holes. The wonderful effect of stitching without the time! Stop in Tuesday between 12 & 2 for more fun ideas for working with this fabulous new tool! Don't forget, for every $25 you purchase between now and Saturday, December 11 at 4 PM, you will receive an entry into our Bo Bunny Tote drawing! The stamping goodies stuffed inside this tote are worth more than $200! Wahoo!

Up to the Challenge

I love being challenged to think about supplies that I have in a new way. Makes me feel like I'm really getting my money's worth! So, I was thrilled with Marilynn's idea for using this fan stencil by Lasting Impressions. When I first saw this design, I immediately thought of summer. But Marilynn thought it would be perfect to use during football season - or to send to anyone in need of a little "pep rally". Join us for our Thursday free make-and-take, any time between 10 and 8, and make one to share with someone who needs a good "cheer"!

I'm Stuck on You!

One of my favorite things about Sticky Back canvas (by Claudine Hellmuth) is how versatile it is! You can stamp it or paint on it. You can cut it with scissors or use your die cutting machine. You can even emboss it (it's hard to see in this picture, but Jenn embossed dots on the strip along the bottom). You can even twist it to create lovely flower embellishments. And there are probably a dozen more uses we haven't even thought of yet! Stop in Tuesday between 12-2 and add your creative thinking to the pot. What fun!

Small Business Saturday!

Perhaps you've been hearing about this on the radio - American Express has launched a huge marketing campaing to announce their first ever Small Business Saturday. The idea is that you will do your Black Friday shopping at the big box stores and malls, but then will spend some time on Saturday, November 27 supporting your favorite local businesses. American Express wants to reward you for doing that. First, you need to go to the American Express web site and register your American Express card. Then, you need to spend $25 or more with that registered card at an independently owned local shop - like us - on Saturday, November 27. American Express will automatically credit $25 to your next statement. It's like shopping at the Happy Stamper for FREE! Don't miss out!

The Wait is Over!

Ranger announced new colors and a new formulation for their Liquid Pearls in July. We've been waiting, mostly patiently, since then. And now they are here! Jenn had so much fun preparing for the demo this week that she couldn't contain her enthusiasm. She sent me the following email: "These new Liquid Pearls are so cool! They flatten themselves out so much better than the old ones, and they round out like perfect little pearls. They are AWESOME!!!" Doesn't that sound like fun? Come give it a try for yourself on Tuesday between 12 - 2.

Snow Much Fun!

One of my favorite things about Just Rite stamps is how they mix, match and coordinate not only with other stamps in the Just Rite collection, but also with Marvy punches and Nestabilities. If you have to make a bunch of Christmas cards, but you get bored with the assembly line approach, make a change in the border or in the center stamp and voila - something new to color without completely recreating the wheel! Stop in Thursday and try it for yourself. You'll love the storage convenience and price of the Just Rite system!

And Now for something completely different!

I'm always looking for new ways to use my stamp collection. This fall, I've been stamping on votives and plastic tins and mirrors to make great gifts for friends and family. Here's another fun holiday idea - making your own window clings! Use your stamps to create a fun pattern, or use the Accu-cut or your own personal die cutting machine. This vinyl cling will stick to windows, mirrors or most kitchen appliances. What a fun way to completely customize your home decor for the holidays. Join Jenn tomorrow between 12 & 2 to find out more fun you can have with vinyl cling!

Happy Turkey Day!

Marilynn found a fantastic way to add color and interest to this card while making perfect use of those paper scraps we can't stand to throw away! Stop in Thursday any time between 10 - 8 to make this card featuring stamps by Hero Arts. It will get you thinking outside the box for ways to paper piece with your own "scraps" collection - and for that, we can all be thankful!

We're not Distressed!

We are very excited to share with you the new Chalk pencils (and keep scheduling a demo to do so), but the pencils are not cooperating. Now their arrival date has been pushed back to the end of the month. Ever flexible Jenn will instead demo Distress Inks (which had been scheduled for next week). If you've never played with Distress Inks because you don't like the "distressed look", then this is absolutely the demo for you. These may be the most incorrectly named ink pads ever! You can achieve very lush, colorful projects without a hint of a vintage look with these soft dye inks that are oh so easy to blend. You really should come and see, especially if you've never tried them before! They may become your favorite ink pad! Jenn will be sharing tips and techniques tomorrow between 12-2 so stop by!

Seasonal Tranquility

I LOVE the color of this card - it's very soothing in the midst of what can become a crazy time of year! And, monochromatic cards (cards featuring a single color) somehow look very elegant, even when they are fairly simple. We will be using a set from Hero Arts and the "reduction technique" to create this beautiful effect. Join us Thursday and create one for yourself.

Ooooohhh Shiny!

Do you want to add a touch of elegance to your projects this holiday season? If so, you've got to stop by our FREE Learn at Lunch on Tuesday between 12 -2 to play with the Tsukineko Shimmer Spritz inks! This water-based ultra-fine mist can be used on everything! Spray it on ribbons for a touch of shimmer or on paper for a hint of shine! It's sheer enough to spritz over even the most intricate designs without overpowering the image! This spray comes in 7 luscious colors in a convenient mini-mister size. You can also purchase the economical refill bottle and save some extra money! If you're like me, you'll need the refill once you start spraying it on everything!

Too Cute to Spook!

This Thursday's FREE make-and-take card is adorable! Featuring paper from Bo Bunny's Halloween collection, a bargain stamp from Imaginisce and a single piece of ribbon from May Arts, you'll create a card to please young and old alike! Stop in and make one for yourself before they disappear!

Curses - Foiled again!

Admit it - you've always wanted to quote Rocky and Bullwinkle in a blog post. While this isn't one of the most memorable lines ever from one of their shows, it does sort of relate to tomorrow's Learn at Lunch demo. Jenn will be showing us how to work with Design Adhesives - part sticker/part rub-on! We'll be working with designs created by Memory Box to coordinate with their stamps. Learn tips for applying Design Adhesives to your projects as well as all the different things you can use with them, like flocking and the new foil strips from Clearsnap! Foil gives you the look of Gold Leafing, but is much more economical and comes in a wide variety of colors! Plus, you can stamp over the top of it with StazOn for even more options! Stop in Tuesday between 12-2 to find out more!

Penguin Joy!

Gimme a "J"! Don't these little penguins look like they could be leading the "J-O-Y" cheer? They make me happy just looking at them! I love working with penguin stamps. Stamp in black on white paper, and you're almost done - EASY! Stop in Thursday between 10-8 for some penguin joy of your own.

Fun with Claudine Hellmuth

We had a lot of fun over the weekend in Claudine Hellmuth's Spooky Village class (see the amazing village photo below). You really had to see it in person - you can't see the luminaries glowing inside the houses in a photo!

Claudine showed us some wonderful things she did with her brand new stamps, and we will be planning a class early next year featuring them. However, if you just can't wait, Jenn will be demonstrating the many uses of the stamps in tomorrow's Learn at Lunch from 12-2.

These stamps come in a variety of themes, and in two different forms. Each theme has a foam set and then a corresponding clear set. The foam set is great for stamping on walls, fabric or paper. Then stamp back over with the clear set to add definition! Because the set is clear, there is no need for a stamp positioner! Easy! But don't take my word for it - come in and give it a try for



yourself. And, if you can't make it in, take a look at Claudine's online demo! I'm telling you - you are gonna LOVE these stamps!

Snow Fun!

OK, I must admit that I am nowhere near ready for snow. However, these new stamps and papers from the Tinsel collection (Memory Box) were just too cute to wait! Doesn't the snowman have the cutest face? It's the same coal eyes and carrot nose as other snowmen, but somehow his expression is just sweet. And, as always, the new color palette of paper is spectacular! Stop in tomorrow and make one for yourself. Then wait patiently until it's time to send it!

A Stitch in Time

Many moons ago (before children) I used to cross stitch. Sadly, I don't have the spans of uninterrupted time like I used to, but I do have a huge collection of DMC thread. I was delighted to find these Punch & Stitch punches that make use of DMC thread (and other floss) but require a lot less time! Use the punch to create perfectly shaped holes. You can then decide how to stitch them - there are endless possibilities. Jenn created 2 different stitches on this card - both from the same punch! This is the circle punch, but there are several other shape options. Stop in and see for yourself just how much fun this is! Jenn will be demonstration the punches on Tuesday between 12-2.

Cards for the Troops

We are working with America's Adopt a Soldier to send 1000 care packages to our troops stationed overseas. One of the items they have requested for the packages are Christmas cards that the troops can send back home to their families. Plan to join us anytime between 10-8 on Thursday, October 7 to help make a card. We always have a FREE card make-and-take on Thursdays, but for this event, you will be making two cards - one you may take home with you and the other you will leave for the care packages (although you are certainly welcome to leave both cards if you wish). We appreciate Memory Box for helping to provide supplies for this event, and we appreciate your help. And, we absolutely appreciate our service men and women! You are welcome to drop off other cards for them to send home to family as well. They specifically requested birthday/miss you/thinking of you (in addition to Christmas) cards, and envelopes would be especially helpful. If you are dropping off cards, remember that flat is best - try to restrain yourself from too many embellishments. Thanks and see you Thursday!

Dimensional Art!

We are now carrying the Viva Decor line of products, including the Pearl Pen and Glass Effects pen. These pens have very fine tips, so you have fantastic control! The Viva Decor Pearl Pens come in a variety of colors and have an incredible pearlescence. They are also fabric-safe and can be washed! The Glass Effects pens look stunning on papers (Jenn used it on the Inchie) but also dry beautifully on glass, acetate and more! Come try something completely new at our FREE Learn at Lunch demo on Tuesday - any time between 12 & 2.

"Leaves" Nothing to Chance

Ok - even I admit that this post "heading" is 2/3 of a pun: "P" "U". (That joke is dedicated to my high school band director - he said it often). Anyway, back to the business at hand...This is the FREE make-and-take card for Thursday. Marilynn used one of the oval templates from Rubber Stamp Tapestry to create a "reverse mask" to frame the leaves. It's a beautiful effect - it almost looks like a rounded paper adhered to the card! We used an outline leaf stamp a couple of weeks ago - these solid leaves by Heartfelt Creations really display the full color of fall! And the sentiment by Verses Rubber Stamps tops it all off! Come make one for yourself!

Easy Peasy

Do you love the look of layered flowers (and other designs) but hate the thought of all of that "fussy" cutting? If so, then you absolutely won't want to miss our Learn at Lunch demo tomorrow at noon! Heartfelt Creations is a new company that has created a line of stamps (and some of their own dies) that work with the Nestabilities dies you already own! Stamp and cut in less time than you ever thought possible! Wow! Stop in and see how easy this is - it reminds me of the old Rice Krispie Treat commercials. People will think you spent a ton of time, when in fact you're relaxing and reading a good blog :-)

Halloween Treats!

It's scary how much I enjoy getting Halloween treats! Instead of a card for this week's FREE make-and-take project, Marilynn has created this adorable "treat tag"! It's a perfect addtion to a goodie bag made for your favorite ghost or goblin! Dare I say - it's boo-tiful?

Inspirations Can Come in Colors

If you were able to join us for our Anniversary Open House, then you received a free jar of Inspirations paint. These highly metallic paints come in a huge selection of colors and look amazing on light or dark colored card stocks. You can paint on a variety of mediums, and you can paint directly to your stamp and stamp with them. We also created our own ink pad with them during the Open House and used them to create multicolored images with ease. Join Jenn this Tuesday between 12 - 2 to find out more. They really will inspire you!

Autumn Colors

We sometimes hear people wonder aloud about how long it would take to color a very detailed image (like the one we are using in Thursday's FREE make-and-take). And, depending on the technique you use, the answer could vary widely. Marilynn used colored pencils to create this lovely card, and it took hardly any time at all! Find out more when you join us any time between 10 and 8 on Thursday to make a card for yourself!

On the Fringe!

The fringe scissors, by Martha Stewart, can obviously be used to create the effect of grass. But have you thought of all the other things you can do with them? Jenn used them to edge paper she then turned into this fabulous flower. Fun! Stop in Tuesday anytime between 12 and 2 to learn how to create this flower. Who knows? Perhaps you'll think of even more uses for these funky fringers.

Fall is Almost Here

With the weekend tempatures and school back in session, I was starting to believe fall was on the way (I think I may have been tricked!). But fall WILL eventually arrive, so why not be prepared? Join us Thursday for our FREE card make-and-take featuring the Real Leaves set from Hero Arts. All kinds of fun - and no raking!

Who makes the cut?

One of the questions we are asked most frequently is, "What is the best paper trimmer?" Unfortunately, there is no single best answer. Like almost every other question we are asked, the answer is another question - "What are you trying to do?" Join Jenn this Tuesday from 12-2 and unravel the mystery of paper trimmers. She'll share with you the advantages (and some disadvantages) of the Marvy Rotary Cutter, the Fiskars Premium Trimmer, the Zutter Cutter and the Tonic Guillotine Cutter. Try them for yourself and make your own assessment!

Versatility is Key!

For Thursday's FREE make-and-take, we are using a Michael Strong vase stamp - that's right - this is just one stamp! Marilynn stamped it on 3 different colors of card stock and started cutting to create 3 unique looking vases, all from one stamp! But she didn't stop there. Make sure you look at her other card samples featuring this same stamp. She found it could be used with half a dozen (or more) different techniques. Fun!

Fun with Creatables!

The hottest dies to hit the US right now are from Europe! Marianne Designs has a wonderful collection of dies made to work with your Cuttlebug (and other machines as well) that are perfect for cutting, embossing and even stenciling your papers. Join Jenn this Tuesday from 12-2 and learn how to use these dies to do all three techniques!

Soft and pretty

I love the pretty flowers and warm colors of this card! For Thursday's FREE make-and-take, Marilynn used a direct-t0-paper technique over a white embossed flower (to create a soft resist effect). She could have embossed in black, and that would have given a completely different (although equally nice) feel to the card. In fact, it would be a fun way to create a set of cards for someone as a gift. Simply change the embossing color or the card color or both and make a quick set of cards for someone special (or to have on hand when you need a card quick)!

Mmmmm, shiny!

Some of my friends and family have accused me of being part-magpie because I am so easily distracted by shiny things. So, it's no wonder I was so taken with the Marvy Metallic pens that we used on the bamboo tiles in the Open House. I thought, "if a little bit of metallic shine is good, how much better would a LOT of metallic shine be?" I think this card speaks for itself! Join Jenn on Tuesday from 12-2 as she shows you the versatility of these pens - I think she used them on the ribbon, too. Fun! (and did I mention "shiny"?)

Bound to be bright!

Wouldn't you love to receive this card in the mail? Just looking at it makes me happy! This card features Hero Arts stamps and a direct-t0-rubber technique that makes the image pop off the paper. And the polka dot ribbon is the perfect finishing touch! Stop in Thursday and make one for yourself. While you're here, check out the HUGE selection of brand new Hero Arts wood-mount stamps, clings and clear sets we received for fall and winter in anticipation of Jennifer McGuire's classes at the end of the month. It's a sight to behold!

Community Outreach update

We interrupt our regularly scheduled blog post (about the Learn at Lunch demo, which is posted just below) to share the results of our collection efforts last week for Alpha's Glory. As you can see, the director of the pregnancy crisis center was delighted - and she's standing next to only a fraction of what you all so generously donated! Paula reported that the volunteers were literally ripping open the diaper packages as they were brought in and handing them out to their clients. Their shelves were that bare! So, a great big thank you once again for joining our little community to reach out to the bigger community. We appreciate you!

Embossing "Wow"der!

Tomorrow's Learn at Lunch demo features the highly metallic embossing powders called Zing! They come in a huge variety of colors, and look great on any color cardstock - especially dark! With fall and Christmas on the horizon, why not use a dark rust or red card stock and add "pop" with these embossing powders? Yum! Jenn designed this card with a lot of thought. She not only emphasized the way the embossing powder looks on black, but she used inchies, inchies + and twinchies together (what a cute idea)! She also used the same stamps to create a black & white background so the focal images really popped. This technique is called spotlighting. This simple card is full of great ideas! Come play with these embossing powders and see what great ideas you can generate - available Tuesday from 12-2, and as always, FREE!

Beat the Heat!

This NoVa weather certainly doesn't pass for a tropical paradise (and don't get me started on the traffic), so why not beat the heat and take a little mini-vacation. Thursday's make-and-take card will put you in an island state of mind! Stamp over a brayered background, then add "light" to your scene with the Signo Opaque White pen. Yum - I can almost taste the coconuts!

Think again!

Embossed stickers are a wonderful way to complete a card. But have you really thought about all the ways you can use them? Join Jenn Tuesday between 12-2 for some new ways of thinking about stickers! Jenn will show you how to color them with Copic markers so they will match any card or page. You can also use them as stencils or masks to create fabulous resist projects. Stop in and see for yourself!

Sweet!

This Thursday's FREE make-and-take is a little bit different - it's a postcard instead of a card! We're using the scalloped postcards from Memory Box and stamps from their cupcake collection to create this adorable, "any occasion" card. You could easily send it as a birthday card, but I think it would make an excellent thank you note as well. Stop in and cure your craving for card making!

Chalk it up!

Perhaps you've played with chalk in the past, but Pebbles Creamy chalks are probably NOT what you've experienced! You will get soft, creamy color without a lot of "residue". I love the applicators that come with each set of 30 coordinating colors - pom poms and alligator clips. The pom poms vary in size, making application over any size area a breeze. Plus, you can use a different pom pom for each color family. Easy! Stop in Tuesday between 12-2 and give them a try.

When life gives you lemons....

...make cards with them? This is just the perfect summer card! Join us Thursday for our FREE card make-and-take where you will learn to dry emboss (with a brass stencil and lightbox) and then scruff the white-core paper to create the additional detail that makes this card really pop. Brighten someone's day by sending this sunny little card!

My, how you've grown!

We have been big fans of "inchies" for a couple of years now, so it stands to reason we'd like their big brothers - "twinchies" - just as much! Join Jenn at Tuesday's Learn at Lunch to play with inchies, twinchies and the "in-between" size called Inchies +. They make a perfect canvas for your smaller stamps. These little squares are so popular that swaps have sprung up on the Internet, and we even have storage sheets that are just perfect for displaying your collection! Stop in from 12-2 and see what all the fuss is about!

It's Ornamental

I love these Microscope frames from Ranger! They come in a variety of sizes and finishes, and they are so versatile! You can make necklaces or, as in this case, ornaments that look like they were professionally soldered with virtually no effort at all! Join us for our 7th Anniversary Open House and create this ornament for yourself! It features a stamp from the new What's in the Box collection from Memory Box. And no ornament is complete without a little "bling".

Production Line

When you are deciding on your holiday card design, you really need to consider how many cards you are going to send and plan accordingly. This card is perfect for larger numbers of cards. It's simple, but pretty, and features a brand new decorative tape (the snowflakes) from a company called Tapeswell. They have a large selection of designs to choose from, and since it's tape, you don't have to apply adhesive to the back like you would with a piece of decorative paper. Super quick! Stop in Thursday and make one for yourself - FREE!

Clearly Just Rite!

Just Rite has long been one of our favorite stamp companies. Their unique products make customizing your projects quick and simple. And now they've made them even easier to use. Join Jenn this Tuesday from 12-2 to play with their new CLEAR mounts! Now you can see exactly where you're placing your images. These clear blocks still have the "ridges", so they are fully compatible with sets you have purchased in the past. Intrigued? Stop by and see - no reservation is required!

Something Shiny, Something New!

One of the fun things we try to do as part of our 7th Anniversary Open House is introduce you to new products and/or new techniques. This card features both! This card is part of the Afternoon make-and-take session and features a new product called Inspirations paint. We used this highly iridescent paint in two ways - to paint the Hero Arts Flower in the center of the card, and on a dry inkpad to create a multicolor impression when stamped on black (it's hard to see in this photo, so stop in and see how beautiful it is in person). Hope you can join us for our special day - Saturday, August 7.