Multicolor Backgrounds!

Welcome to our first Technique Tag Tuesday of 2012! Why not make a resolution you are sure to keep and visit us on Tuesdays between 12-2 each week to expand your stamping knowledge - for FREE! This week, we'll be playing with the Kaleidacolor multicolor pads by Tsukineko. Perhaps you've seen these eye-catching pads and wondered how to use them. Now's your chance to find out! Join Jenn to create fabulous backgrounds and see how easy these pads are to use!

Inventory Reduction Sale!

We have always been closed the week between Christmas and New Year's so that we might enjoy the holidays with our families. But this year, we've decided to open for one special sale day! Please join us Friday, December 30 from 12:00 - 8:00 PM (please note the special hours) for a sale you won't want to miss! Plus, there will be cookies and warm apple cider!

The details:

**spend up to $49.99 and take 15% off your entire purchase

**spend between $50 and $99.99 and take 20% off your entire purchase

**spend $100 or more and take 25% off your entire purchase

This offer excludes class registrations, special orders/items on hold, and the purchase of gift certificates. Please note that we WILL be offering an extra discount on clearance items! Don't miss this opportunity to stretch your Christmas money and gift certificates! We hope to see you there!

Last FREE Make-and-Take of the Year

Rushing around with my last minute "stuff", I realized I never posted this week's card. Sorry about that! I'm especially sorry because it is a stunner! Marilynn is the queen of Stampscapes, and this card features their country church image. If you've been intimidated to try Stampscapes before, this is a great chance because you're just using the single image. The fun is in the coloring! Marilynn framed the image beautifully with the Spellbinders Labels 10 die and added a finishing touch - the star die by Memory Box. Stop in Thursday between 10 and 8 to make one for yourself. This will be our last make-and-take in 2011 - but we'll be back in 2012 with more great projects for you to enjoy! See you then!

Save Time and Money!

Embossing folders are great, but if you want to stamp an image over the top of your embossed paper, you have to add layers - which adds time and money to any project. That is, until now! Come see these clever little frames (7 different shapes and sizes are included in the kit) that leave a space for you to stamp your words or images. They work with all of your embossing folders and whatever die-cutting machine that you already have! Come give it a try Tuesday between 12 & 2. I guarantee you're going to love these!

What a treat!

This card is so sweet, I can almost taste it! Designed by Impression Obsession, this card features their stamps and makes a great all-occasion greeting card, or a nice Thank You card following the holidays. Stop in Thursday between 10 - 8 and make one for yourself. But don't blame me if you need to make a trip to Starbucks afterwards for some Peppermint Mocha!

Shimmer and Shine

I'm having so much fun with the Shimmer Sheetz! These are high quality, fabric safe mylar sheets and have dozens of uses. You can punch them or cut them with any dies that are not wafer thin (wafer thin dies won't cut them, but will emboss them - kind of a cool effect). And they emboss beautifully with any folder! The sheets come in a handful of colors, but you can also stain them with alcohol inks and the shimmer still shines through! Stop by the shop Tuesday between 12-2 and let Jenn show you how much fun they are! The demo is FREE!

Soothing Wishes!

This card is so beautiful and soothing - and perfect for any occasion! You'll create a resist technique with Pearlescent Brilliance ink pads - easy with a hint of shimmer. This set of stamps is by TPC. We love them - they are cling-mount rubber stamps with clear set prices! Very reasonable and durable as well! Stop in Thursday and make a card for yourself. Hopefully, this card holds the only snowflakes we'll see for a while!

HoneyPop Demo

Each Tuesday, we have a FREE demo from 12 to 2 PM that we like to call Technique Tag Tuesday. As you might imagine, you'll make a tag using the latest new products or techniques. It's a lot of fun, and you learn a lot too, for such a tiny canvas.

But this Tuesday's demo just couldn't be contained on one tag. Join Jenn to learn more about the latest stamping craze - HoneyPop cards! These cards are easy to make and have a lot of bang for the buck. Open them up to reveal a wonderful 3-D surprise!

There are lots of colors of papers to choose from and lots of stamp designs to fit every occasion! But let me warn you, they are addictive! And the person who receives these cards will be completely amazed that you made it yourself! Trust me!

Get Stuffed!

That seems like the appropriate title coming on the heels of Thanksgiving! And, now, here we are in December with more holidays in front of us. Don't forget, we have gift certificates available, and we make it easy on the gifter. To purchase gift certificates, simply call the shop, stop by, or even email us and pay via PayPal. And, if you need a little teacher gift, stocking stuffer or "something extra", check out our little goodie bags. Each bag contains a set of note cards, corresponding ink (with its own reinker) and a rubber stamp. These sets are $18 each and are approximately 20% off the retail price, if items were purchased separately. Easy and just what you've always wanted!

Get a Head Start!

Christmas is right around the corner. Need a card idea? Stop in Thursday between 10 and 8 to make this little stunner featuring stamps from Hero Arts. I love that it uses a slightly different color combo from the traditional red & green. And, I LOVE adding Baker's twin to virtually anything - it feels so pepperminty (I think that should be a word, if it isn't).

Sew Ribbon!

We've had a lot of fun with the Sew Easy products from We R Memory keepers - so we were excited to try their latest product: Sew Ribbon! Like the Sew Easy, which creates holes for sewing thread in a variety of shapes and designs, the Sew Ribbon creates unique patterns for sewing 1/4" ribbon. The design shown is the leaf pattern, but there are 5 other designs as well. I like the scallop pattern for creating a bunting look. You'll love adding borders and texture to your project, and it really couldn't be easier! Stop in between 12 and 2 on Tuesday and give it a try. Fun!

And the winner is...

Thanks to everyone who voted in the first ever "staff smack down". In case you didn't know, the staff each decorated one of the Tubes from SRM Designs. Some of us decorated the original tube, some of us chose the Mini tube, and some re-imagined the Magic Wand. And the winner was Melinda with her adorable Reindeer Food project! Congratulations, Melinda! We have all of the tubes still available for your inspiration at the shop, along with the list of who made what - because I know several of you were curious. Stop by and see - and snag some tubes to create your own. These are great gifts at this time of year!

Flocking made easy!

If you've never played with Design Adhesives before, you are missing out on one of the easiest ways to add texture to your projects! They are basically a double-sided adhesive rub-on. You can apply them to virtually any surface, and then cover them with almost anything - flocking, glitter or even gold leaf! They come in a wide variety of designs, so the possibilities are virtually endless! Join Jenn Tuesday between 12 & 2 and give them a try!

The View through the Window

Window cards are so elegant! They look so professionally finished! Join us Thursday for our FREE card make-and-take where we'll be layering 2 different cover-a-card backgrounds (from Impression Obsession) to create the clouds and trees. We'll be adding texture with Flower Soft and finishing it off with this lovely poem - also by Impression Obsession. The window layers are already cut (from Paper Cut). How easy is that?

No disguise!

Maybe because it's just past Halloween, but when I think of masks - well, I think of disguises. And, in a way, that's what masking is. It's a trick of perspective - you stamp things first that you want to appear on top, then you hide that image (or mask it) while you stamp over the top the images that you want to appear in the back. Magic! If it sounds complicated, it is a little hard to describe. But it's actually quite easy to do - especially with Eclipse masking tape! Join Jenn for our FREE demo on Tuesday between 12 and 2 and find out all the different ways you can use masking tape. Jenn even ran the tape through her die-cutting machine to create a detailed mask without all the cutting. Snappy!

Shari Carroll of Hero Arts

One of the greatest thrills and advantages of having a local stamp store is the opportunity to take classes, not only with talented local instructors on a regular basis, but also with the most recognizable talents in the industry! Shari Carroll has been designing for Hero Arts for 22 years, and she brought that wealth of knowledge to us this weekend! Each card project was just packed with tips, techniques and ideas.

Plus, I love her organization. All of her projects were "housed" in little bags so we could concentrate on the things she was teaching us! Fun! Hero Arts will be releasing the new 2012 catalog on Saturday, December 10. This is always a fun event at the Happy Stamper as we will be seeing the new stamps for the first time as well. We buy the boxes sight unseen - and we have never been disappointed! This year, Hero is sending sample boards with the new release - and most of the cards were designed by Shari! Mark your calendars and plan to come check it out! And, if you'd like us to reserve a copy of the catalog for you, please just let us know!

Get Inspired!

The November Board of the Month from Inky Antics features several inspirational clear stamp sets (make sure you bring your camera as the card samples are incredible)! We are using one of the sets to create this wonderful all-occasion card. We're also using the new embossed card stock from Bazzill. This paper is printed on white core card stock, so you can scruff off the embossed images to really make them stand out! Come see the different colors and embossed designs! This card is available for you to make FREE between 10 and 8 on Thursday. See you then!

More GlazOn to Love!

Tsukineko introduced the original GlazOn earlier this year. This amazing sealant allows you to layer StazOn inks without them becoming muddy or bleeding into each other. This is great news for all of your projects on non-porous surfaces! Leave it to Tsukineko to triple the fun with two new finishes of GlazOn - Vintage and Matte. Stop by Tuesday between 12 and 2 and let Jenn show you how to work with these amazing glazes!

Christmas Joy!

It's November! Which means Christmas isn't far away. YIKES! Join us Thursday for our FREE make-and-take Christmas card featuring whimsical stamps from Inky Antics. In this card, we'll play with Copic markers, Stardust pens and Flocking! The flocking adds just the right amount of fuzzy texture to the Santa jacket which makes this card extra fun! Stop in any time between 10 and 8 to make one for yourself!

A Day at the Beach!

After all the rain we've had this fall, doesn't a day at the beach sound heavenly? Why not bring a little bit of the beach home with you? Stop in Tuesday between 12 & 2 and play with Muddpuddles - a unique product that suspends sand in an adhesive for an easy application that looks totally authentic! No messy mixing required, and we promise you won't get any between your toes either! Check out all of their different colors, because after all, not all sand is the same!

Inspiration for November

Each month, we wait with anticipation to see the newest Inky Antics idea board. Their cards usually feature whimsical animals and critters, so we were quite surprised and delighted with November's change of pace. Each of these cards features a scripture and a lovely image to compliment it. All of the stamps needed to recreate these cards are available in economical clear sets, paired up with images and scriptures. Easy! Stop in and see them up close, They really are stunning cards!

Details, details!

This week's FREE make-and-take card is very difficult to photograph well. The reflection of the Black Glossy paper (even with the flash off) hides the subtle metallic shimmer we created with Marvy Metallic pens. The accents we added with Distress Stickles so exactly match the notecard color that it almost appears we punched lacy holes - but this is much easier than that! And, notice how the Extra Giga Scalloped Oval punch is framed perfectly by the background stamp by Flourishes. It's like everyone just played nice together, even though there are 6 different companies represented in this card. I LOVE it when a plan comes together! Stop in Thursday anytime between 10 and 8 and make one for yourself!

May I Be Direct?

This week's demo focuses on different direct-to-paper techniques including resists and altering the color of printed paper. You will leave inspired to pull out your Cat's Eyes and start coloring everything in sight! Jenn will show you 3 completely different techniques - all on one fabulous tag. Yet another benefit of layering (and at this time of year, layering is a must, right?)! Join us Tuesday anytime between 12 and 2 to play! It's FREE and there's no need to pre-register.

Dazzling Colors of Fall!

This fabulous background stamp from Impression Obsession just screams for fall colors! We created this collage of color using Gelatos from Faber-Castell. These creamy watercolor crayons are super easy to work with and have a very vibrant finish. Come try them out for yourself at our FREE Thursday make-and-take. Simply stop in between 10 & 8. Finish this all-occasion card with the perfect sentiment from DRS stamps. Happy Fall to one and all!

Oooooh, Goosebumps!

We had a great time on a Tuesday back in February with the fabulous Goosebumps spray from Tsukineko. This product creates an interesting texture on any porous surface. Tsukineko has expanded the Goosebumps line with a new Shimmer Goosebumps (and Goosebumps Matte in in the works). Stop in Tuesday between 12 and 2 and let Jenn show you how much fun these sprays are, and how easy they are to use! (Sadly, it's very hard to capture the shimmer in a photo, so you really must stop by! If you can't make the Tuesday demo, we have the samples here for you to check out next time you're in the shop - please just ask)!

No Tricks, Just Treats!

We just loves these Tubes from SRM! We used the larger size at the Anniversary Open House to make a fabulous organizer for beads, brads and buttons. But we also have them in mini sizes (see picture) and even in a Magic Wand size! They are the perfect way for packaging up little treats for your favorite ghosts and goblins! SRM also makes clear stickers that are perfect for decorating clear projects - tubes, acrylic minibooks, or even on mirrors! Come make this adorable project at our FREE Thursday make-and-take (while supplies last). Sadly, the project doesn't include the candy.

It's Metallic!

Hello everyone! Guest blogger Jenn here! It seems whenever there is a new ink out that really WOWs me, it is from the creative minds at Tsukineko. Delicata is no exception, and as far as metallic inks, this one is a grand slam! You're going to have to come in and try this for yourself, because there is just no way to describe the vibrancy this ink has! Come in and try it with both a solid image and a detailed image to see the fantastic coverage. I'll be leading the demo on Tuesday between 12 and 2. This ink is going to look incredible on your holiday cards and tags!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

And we're doing our part. Stop by the shop this month and pick up your free self-exam information. While you're here, check out the adorable "Fight Like A Girl" products we have available. We have notecards, bling, minibooks, lip balm and travel cups, mugs and cozies! These are fun for yourself or make great gifts, and with each purchase, we make a donation to breast cancer research!

Oh Happy Day!

Hooray! The sun came out! It was feeling much more like spring than like fall with all of this rain. So, to help get you in the proper fall mood, join us Thursday for our FREE card make-and-take. Marilynn used this adorable stamp set from American Crafts and lots of luscious fall colors to create this all-occasion card. Instead of using an extra green layer for the grass, she masked off part of the card stock and used a direct-to-paper technique. She added lots of elegant touches with a button and baker's twine. This card just makes me happy looking at it. Imagine how much fun it will be to make, send and receive! Oh happy day indeed!

Easy Embossing!

Last week's Technique Tag Tuesday featured the new Stamp and Cut sets from Hero Arts and Sizzix. This week, join Jenn to play with the Embossing collection. How fun to use a collage stamp with coordinating embossing folder to create these sophisticated designs in just a matter of minutes. Let Jenn show you how easy it is to line them up. People will not believe you made these "by hand"! Jenn is here each Tuesday from 12-2 showing you the latest techniques and products. Don't miss these FREE and fabulous opportunities to find out what's new and exciting! No registration is required.

New Idea Boards!

The Christmas board from Northwoods arrived in early September and was wildly popular. We've already restocked the images from that collection once! This new board promises to be every bit as exciting! I love the vibrant cardinal images against the snowy backdrops! Bring your camera and take pictures of your favorites. We have all the stamps available to recreate these fantastic cards.

Also new is the Christmas collection from Inky Antics. I LOVE these stamps - they are so unusual! How often do you think about the Christmas Elephant, Ostrich, Hippo or Camel? If you want to send some unique cards this year, then this is the collection for you! Stop in and see how cute these images are in person. I guarantee they will make you smile!

Metallic Magic

We have a pretty large selection of metallic papers that add sparkle and shimmer to your projects. Sometimes people ask us for suggestions on how to use them. Stamping on them can be a bit tricky (unless you use StazOn and great care), and layering with them can be boring (and expensive). But with all of the fabulous dies from Hero Arts, Memory Box, Sizzix and others, the metallic paper can become the focal point of your card! This Thursday's FREE make-and-take features glasses cut from metallic paper using our Accu-Cut machine. The stamp from Verses makes this the perfect wedding or congratulations card! Be sure when you're in the shop to ask us to show you a couple of card samples we created running the metallic paper through embossing folders. It's spectacular! You're sure to come away inspired to use metallic paper in a whole new way!

New from Hero Arts!

I think one of Jenn's favorite things about leading our Technique Tag Tuesdays is that she gets first dibs on all the newest product. She was standing next to me when we opened the box of brand new Hero sets featuring coordinating dies from Sizzix. Stamp/die combos are so popular now, you can almost forget about all that time you spent cutting things out. Wow! If you've never tried lining the dies up before, you need to stop in Tuesday between 12 and 2 and let Jenn show you how easy it is. And, like all of our demos, you won't leave without giving it a try yourself! See you then!

Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?

I just got home from back-to-school night for my 5th grader, and I'm fairly confident I'm not :-) Wow! These teachers are incredible, so I was excited to see this Thursday's FREE make-and-take card. It will be perfect to send to her and show her a little "love". This card features two sets from the Oxford collection of stamps from Hero Arts (you probably know by now that Hero Arts has teamed up with Basic Grey to create stamps that coordinate beautifully with their paper collections). These stamps would work perfectly for school scrapbooks, too! Basic Grey is not the only company Hero Arts has teamed up with either. They have just released stamps and coordinating embossing folders and dies in partnership with Sizzix. And guess what? We got them in the shop TODAY! Jenn will be demoing the dies on Tuesday, so stay tuned for more info on that as well!

Chalk rules!

Perhaps you've created fabulous pastel looks with chalk before. But have you played with chalk on black cardstock? The Pebbles chalks are extra creamy, and they look fantastic on dark colored cardstock as well! Stop in Tuesday between 12 and 2 and let Jenn show you several tips and tricks for creating soft pastels and dynamic backgrounds. You don't need to pre-register, and the event is absolutely FREE! Hope to see you there.

It's a Breeze!

This week's card will "blow you away". You will have some fun playing with the new Fiskars border punch featuring the fence motif. This punch lends itself to all kinds of projects! The stamps are from the Snag 'em collection by Imaginisce which means they are only $1 each. They stamp beautifully! You'll also get to play with the Faber-Castell Big Brush Markers. These markers are different from Copics (which are alcohol inks) and Memento/Tombo markers (which are water-based) in that they are India Ink markers. They are a very wet ink that dries permanently, but they don't bleed through to the back of your card stock. Therefore, this card doesn't require any layering pieces - hooray! Finally, we'll add just a hint of shimmer with the orange Spica glitter pens. Stop by Thursday between 10 - 8 and make one for yourself!

Tuesday's Demo and Open House Fun!

Tomorrow's Technique Tag Tuesday features a brand new product from Stampendous! These fabulous Mica Flakes add dimension and elegance to any project! You can adhere them in several ways - use red line tape to create precise borders or melt them into embossing powder for a more "free-style" look. This is something entirely new, so come and play. It's fun to try new things! Jenn will be "sharing her toys" on Tuesday between 12 and 2, and you don't have to pre-register to play!


Thanks to everyone who joined us for our 8th Anniversary Open House on Saturday! We had a blast! As you know, we like to introduce you to new companies, and this year was no exception. We had a huge selection of stamps from Vippies! This company designs whimsical stamps for every occasion! If you like Rosie's Roadshow, you'll like Vippies, too! We also brought in virtually every clear stamp set that Flourishes makes. Their designs are more elegant, and they are great for coloring! If you didn't make it in for the Open House, stop in and check it out. We have a few things left to tempt you with!


Open House feels a little bit like a family reunion. It's so great to catch up with friends we've made over the past 8 years! And, because the staff works such different shifts, it's nice for all of us to be together as well. Fun and friendship!

The Make-and-Takes are always a big hit! And, of course, there's "one in every crowd".

I take it back - there are obviously "two in every crowd". Haha! Thanks everyone for coming out and making our day truly special! We look forward to seeing you in the coming year!

A Fresh Perspective

Update: Due to flooding on Sunset Hills Road, we will be closing at 5:30 PM on Thursday, September 8. Please call the store to confirm we are open before making a trip out. Stay safe! 703-435-0051.

One of my favorite ways to completely change the way a stamped image looks is to stamp it on decorative paper. It "grounds" the image so that it doesn't appear to be just floating in space. It makes for a quick card because you don't have to worry about background shading, and it's also a great way to make use of your scraps of decorative paper. Join us Thursday for our FREE card make-and-take. We'll color in this Memory Box stamp with the fabulous Faber-Castell watercolor pencils. If you've never tried them before, you're in for a treat! Hope to see you anytime between 10-8!

No Cause for Distress

If you missed Jenn's fabulous demo when Distress Stains were first introduced, then here's your chance to give them a try (and get to play with the new colors as well). These stains are so easy to use - they're premixed and come in a convenient dauber top bottle to make color washes a breeze! And, of course, they come in the coordinating colors of the Distressed line of products. Now, you may be thinking - why can't I just use the direct-to-paper technique with my Distress Ink Pads and achieve the same look. The answer is: it's impossible with an ink pad. You, no matter how hard you try, will always get little streak marks where you have rubbed the pad across the paper. Not so with Distress Stains. They go on smoothly across a multitude of surfaces. If you are the competitive sort, consider that a challenge...and stop in and give them a try. Jenn will be sharing tips and techniques tomorrow (Tuesday) between 12 & 2. No reservation required!

A Great Day for a Ride!

Now, this is bike-riding weather! How sad when 81 degrees actually feels cool, huh? This Thursday's free make-and-take card features several stamps from Hero Arts. It also features a fabulous technique Marilynn calls the "fade away". That's what gives the card its vintage look. (I love that Marilynn chose a different color to create the fade than a "standard brown"). And, this card is perfect to send to anyone - even a man. If you're like me, it's sometimes hard to come up with good card designs for men. So, stop in Thursday, learn a new technique, create a wonderful all-occasion card, and enjoy the weather! Perfect!

Spooky!

Come have a frightfully good time playing with Claudine Hellmuth's new BLACK Gesso and Sticky Back Canvas. You'll love this fabulous opaque primer that works on virtually any surface and dries without getting brittle. This is especially important when you're using it on canvas - you don't want it to crack as it gets handled or sent through the mail. Join Jenn this Tuesday between 12-2 and get a little messy! Can you think of a better way to spend your lunch hour?

Thursday Make and Take

How about a little brightness in your life? Be sure to stop by the store Thursday (10am-8:45pm) to make a free card featuring one of the latest stamps from Lockhart as well as some of the bright textured dot paper from Bazzill. You will make a great any-occasion card to have on hand to send to someone who needs a little sunshine in their life. We look forward to seeing you!

Earthquakes and Excitement

Well, today was a very exciting day for Northern Virginia. First, there was a large Earthquake that many of us were not expecting. Second, there were all kinds of new additions to the store.

Many of you requested that we carry the very trendy baker's twine by the yard. Well, your wish is our command! Now we carry all 12 colors of Divine Twine Baker's Twine. At only 20 cents a yard, it is a very affordable addition to your crafting projects!

All of our twine options are located together, so they are very easy to find in the store:

Have you ever knocked things off of our shelves while shopping? Well, the earthquake threw a lot of supplies off of our shelves! The good news is that it prompted us to straighten, move items, and generally revamp the store. I want to walk you through some of the changes.

First, Marilynn worked very hard to clean up the back wall. She straightened everything and organized all of our new samples from Lockhart and Rosie's Roadshow to make it easy to find all of the new products. Doesn't it look great?!

Dee fixed the area with all of the new Claudine Hellmuth supplies as well as the Tsukineko Fireworks sprays and the Tim Holtz Distress Stains:

Hare moved all of the Faber-Castell supplies over to the space that used to be occupied by the Staz-On pads:

Don't worry though, the Staz-On pads are easy to find with the other ink pads:

Ready to start stamping for fall? Be sure to check out the paper rack by the door. It is loaded with Fall-themed papers by Imaginice. The candy apple paper is especially delicious!

Speaking of seasonal stamping, are you ready to start thinking of the holidays? We moved many of the new CHA holiday items together next to the door. I think the new supplies will definitely inspire you!

Hero Arts has all kinds of new goodies, and we have ordered EVERYTHING! They are gradually shipping us all of the new supplies, but you can see that we already have many of the new Halloween and holiday stamps. We can't wait until the new dies arrive! If there is anything in particular that you want, be sure to let us know, and we will be happy to hold it for you the second that it arrives. The only hard part will be choosing from all the new goodies:

Whenever we have blank spots in the store, it always makes people nervous. Don't worry, though since we are expecting all kinds of new products. Here is a picture of the space we are reserving for new supplies:

In the front, we are going to add a new sample board from My Favorite Things as well as all the stamps and dies needed to recreate the cards.

On the side, we are going to add all of our new Stamps by Judith images. If you are interested in ordering from Stamps by Judith, be sure to stop by the store soon. We are placing our first order on the 26th, and we would be happy to order your stamps as well. Be sure to check out their catalog. It is loaded with great images as well as samples to help inspire you!

The earthquake was pretty darn scary, but it really prompted us to move things around. It is great timing to organize a bit, because we have an overflow of brand new product that we need to add to the store! I hope you can stop by soon to see it all.