Too Cool for Summer!

Ahhh, the breeze blowing through your "hare" (I'm sorry - I just couldn't resist). Who wouldn't love to receive this adorable all-occasion card? Join us for our Free card make-and-take all day Thursday featuring this adorable stamp set from Cat's Pajamas. We'll practice coloring and shading with Copic markers. Plus, learn how to line up the Fiskar's border punch to make borders on the top and bottom of the pink card stock. It's easy, but there is a trick. See you there!

Glitz and Glam!

One of my favorite products from the most recent trade show I attended is Ultrafine GLITTER from Elizabeth Crafts. That's right - I said glitter! And you'll see why if you join Jenn for our Technique Tag Tuesday tomorrow from 12-2. This is the only glitter I've ever seen that stays put! It literally won't rub off on your fingers once you've adhered it to your project! It's also incredibly shiny! We'll also be playing with their white-core Shimmer Sheetz! And, I love how Jenn changed it up with the tags this week - instead of a typical shipping tag shape, Jenn cut these tags using a Tim Holtz Sizzix die. So, stop in and see what we're up to!

More May Flowers!

This card features new products from Canvas Corp. As accents, we used their adhesive-backed cork circles and a piece of hemp. They added the perfect touches to this flowerful card! We used "open" flower stamps from Hero Arts and stamped on yellow polka-dotted paper - no coloring required! Quick and easy - fun and cheery! The perfect all-occasion greeting! Stop in Thursday to make one for yourself!

Rockin' the Ribbon!

We pride ourselves on how much ribbon we carry in the shop. But even if we had NOTHING but ribbon, we still wouldn't have every color you need for every project. Here's the good news - you can dye your ribbon using your Copic markers. Join Jenn this Tuesday to find out more! In this tag sample, she used the Copic markers to dye the silver metallic leaf ribbon, ric rac and even felty-lace (to create the flowers). How freeing is that? Use ribbon to your heart's content and always have the right color. It's like magic!

May Flowers!

With all the rain we've had lately, the flowers should be as spectacular as this one from Hero Arts! And, it was created with water, too! Marilynn used Water-based markers to color the image directly on the stamp. After stamping the image, she then used a reservoir brush to color over the stamped image to pull color away from the outlines and into the open spaces. The final product looks like a watercolor painting, and it is so easy! Stop in this Thursday to make one for yourself!

Bring on the shimmer!

I LOVE Twinkling H2Os. They are a highly metallic watercolor paint and they are very versatile! You can use them on light or dark colored card stocks, and you can paint with them, or apply them directly to your stamps and stamp with them. But my favorite things about them is the shine! Come see how easy they are to us (and come see the shimmer in person - it's hard to capture in a photo). Jenn will be sharing tips and techniques this Tuesday between 12 and 2. See you there!

It's Flower Time!

I love the flower embellishments - especially the white ones that I can color to perfectly match my projects! In Thursday's FREE make-and-take, we are using the new Tim Holtz Distress Stains to color the flower and adding additional interest by stamping on it as well! Pretty! The piece that the words are stamped on was created using our Accu Cut machine and dies. If you've never used this handy machine before, be sure to ask us how next time you're in the shop!

You Can't Resist!

Ugh! I think I have taken the title from my high school band director as the worst pun maker ever! Sorry to inflict that on you all! Anyway, it's quite EASY to create resists using this new embossed chipboard from Bazzill. (It comes in several different designs, so come check them out). Join Jenn tomorrow between 12 and 2 and play - she used Adirondack Color Wash sprays, but you could use virtually anything to create beautiful resist effects - and the best part is the work is already done for you! Fun and easy!

Faber-Castell

Hello all. Guest blogger Laura here. You may or may not know that we received a large shipment of the Faber-Castell products at Angela's. I know a lot of people are curious about their art supplies and what makes them so fabulous, so I thought I would link a video to the blog that was made by Jennifer McGurire. It is a great way to become familiar with the Artist Big Brush Pens and Gelatos.

How does she do it?

Next time you see Marilynn in the shop, be sure to give her an "atta boy"! She has been creating our weekly make-and-take cards for almost 8 years now. Can you even imagine that? Sometimes, it's all I can do to create one card - especially when there's a deadline! Well done, Marilynn!!!!

I particularly love this week's card. Marilynn created the soft cloud background using the cloud template from Printworks. Simply sponge color around the template - it really is that easy! She used the Accu-cut to create the birdhouse (again using leftover scraps of paper - love it!) and created the branch with the Fiskars Limited Edition branch punch (which she punched twice to make the perfect length). Simple and a thing of beauty. Stop in Thursday to make one for yourself!

Suede Effects with Paper Soft

We love the paper crafting products from Viva Decor. We've shared techniques for working with their Pearl Pens, Glass Effect Pens and Glitter Liners in previous demos. Now you need to see their latest offering! Paper Soft is a unique dye that can be used in multiple ways. At the top of the tag, Jenn applied the product in a vertical motion, creating the appearance of wood. At the bottom, she used a circular motion, and it really looks like suede! She also used it directly on stamps in a couple of different ways - on the swirl using an application of Versamark first to create a 1-step resist, and directly on the stamp for the words. Don't you just love products you can use in a variety of ways??? Paper Soft comes in a nice selection of colors, so come try the latest and greatest - tomorrow between 12-2!