Demo Today!

We have been talking about the free Gelli Plate demo for a while, but the day is finally here! Stop in today between 10:30am-12:30pm (Sat, June 29), and Marilynn will walk you through using this amazing tool.

Of course, she brought tons of samples (this is why her demos are so great)

 

 

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Christmas in June!

Since we haven't had nearly as many days of unbearable heat so far this summer, maybe it won't be as hard to start thinking about Christmas cards and projects! We've got a bit of a head start! We just received this adorable sample board (all the cards are interactive - so so cute) and all the stamps needed to recreate them. We also received the new collection of Christmas themed paper from Kaiser Craft called Holly Bright. It features traditional colors and images with some foil accents in the handy 6x6 collection packs as well as 12x12 sheets.

To keep you motivated, check back at the shop often for more Christmas goodies. We know that Memory Box is planning to ship their HUGE Christmas and Halloween release on July 1, so it will be arriving soon as well.

Need a little early Christmas present for yourself? How about the brand new Level 4 Copic book?

Topics covered in the book include contrast, light sources, shadows, highlights, textures, mixing custom colors, using multiliners, creating backgrounds, and watercoloring with Copics. There are tons of samples and the book even includes a free cd so that you can have extra images to practice all of the techniques!

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Ahhhh, Summertime!

This card features new stamps from Inky Antics (see more card ideas using these images on their June board - available in the shop).  We dyed vellum to create the water (and adhered it with the Tombo glue stick, which works surprising well with vellum).  The "peek-a-boo" circle and frame were created using our Accu-cut, which you can come in and use any time a class is not in session!  Stop in Thursday anytime between 10 & 8 and make one of these cuties for yourself! 

Rubbermoon!

Rubbermoon images arrived and their flair for quirky and whimsical designs makes such fun cards. I am posting part of the shipment so that you can get a feel for their style.

Stop by and give them a look!

 

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What is Happening This Week

Hi everyone!  Here is what is happening at the store this week:

Tuesday, June 25
Cutting Flower Garden - 3D Flower Class
Time: 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Fee: $48.00

Wednesday, June 26

Class- Copics II
Time: 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Fee: $24.00

Thursday, June 27

Masterboard and Cards
Time: 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM or 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Fee: $24.00

Free Make and Take card

All-day from 10:00am- 8:30pm  Stop in and make a free card!

Saturday, June 29

FREE demo!

10:30am-12:30pm

Marilynn is back with another incredible Saturday Demo - and best of all, it's absolutely FREE! Join Marilynn anytime between 10:30 and 12:30 on Saturday, June 29, and learn the ins-and-outs of working with the hottest mixed media tool on the market - Gelli Plates! Use these with your plastic stencils to create interesting textural backgrounds and so much more! If you have ever attended one of Marilynn's demos before, you know that they are not to be missed. So mark your calendars now - and we'll see you there!

Unconventional Convention!

 We hope you are planning to join us Friday and Saturday for our First ever Unconventional Convention!  We have so many fun things planned to give you your "convention experience" without lines or admission fees!!!  Friday, June 21 we are open extended hours:  10 - 8!  And we'll have the owner and two designers from Sweet N Sassy stamps joining us all day with demos, make-and-takes and their incredible trade show booth!  They are bringing 24 boards, each containing 20 card samples.  I can't even DO that math!  Bring your camera so you don't forget any of this eye candy!  And, they also have some 3-D project ideas that don't fit on boards.  Wow!  Of course, beginning Friday and on into Saturday, we have our fabulous popcorn machine, grab bags for purchase (spend $20 and get between $75-$80 of stamping supplies) and the ever popular Bargain Bags - these bags are $3 each and contain approximately 15 sheets of paper and 2 yards of ribbon!!! 

On Saturday, Darsie Bruno of Just Rite stamps will be here with a series of make-and-takes and demos.  We have a huge selection of their stamps and coordinating dies to entice you as well.  Plus, a fun show special!  Purchase 3 Just Rite items on Saturday, and take home their 2013 catalog.  It is full of over 100 project ideas and Darsie Bruno is featured on the cover of the add-on catalog and several other instances throughout.  This may call for a "catalog signing"!  :-)

And speaking of "book signings", author Mollie Cox Bryan will also be here on Saturday from 1-5 for a book signing! Mollie is the author of Scrapbook of Secrets (which was nominated for an Agatha Award for the Best First Novel of 2012) and Scrapped (which has been nominated for a People's Choice Award from the Library of Virginia). The weekend promises to be a total blast, so plan to join us both days. See you there!!!!

Oh My Goodness!

Sweet and Sassy just set up their booth in our store, and it is amazing! We will be highlighting them tomorrow (Fri, June 21) for our "Unconventional Convention." Their owner will be here along with some of her designers and will be demoing their products. Be sure to stop by and bring a camera. There are hundreds of samples to inspire you! Can't wait? Stop by Thursday night for a sneak peek and early shopping.

 

 

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So Sweet!

 This Thursday's FREE make-and-take card is so life-like, you can almost taste it!  But don't!!!  This card features fabulous summertime images from Impression Obsession and extra chunky glitter from Art Institute Glitter.  You can make one for yourself Thursday between 10 - 8.  How sweet is that???

Happy Dance

Hi guys, Laura here. I titled the post the way I did because a lot of product just arrived at the store that I specifically wanted. I did a little happy dance, hugged my new "toys," then made sure it was all entered.

First, PanPastels. We have had them in the store before, but now we can get them as individual colors as well as sets. Aren't they beautiful?

What are PanPastels you ask? PanPastels are artist quality dry pastels that are ultra soft, super creamy, and are so easy to mix, blend, and layer as you would paints. They are highly pigmented, and can be ERASED completely if you make a mistake. Marilynn and I are both planning to use them in our classes.

Here are a couple of hints about PanPastels:

1. You need very little color on your sponge. If you are creating a lot of "dust," then you are rubbing too hard. Believe me, a little goes a long way.
2. Try them with those plastic stencils that a lot of companies are making right now. You will love the results!
3. You can tint or shade a color by adding a little white, black, or grey pastel.
4. Although you could use a cosmetic sponge with the pastels, it isn't the best tool. Cosmetic sponges suck up a lot of the pastels, so a lot is wasted. Have you ever washed a cosmetic sponge and were amazed by how much foundation came out of it? Same thing. It is better to use sponges that are meant to go with pastels:

The second product I am really excited about are Zig "Wink of Stella" brush markers. They are liquid glitter pens that allow you to add "controlled glitter" to your project. It dries really fast, and the glitter doesn't come off the paper. As you can see from the picture below, the pen looks and acts just like a waterbrush. The brush tip also allows you to make thin or thick lines.

Here are some pictures of the black and clear pens on paper:

And on colored paper:

Hope you are as excited about the new products as I am!

 

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The new Pink Ink Stamps (formally Lockhart stamps) is finally here.  Pink Ink Stamps opened their door on June 15 with 11 new images and they are fantastic.  She has sent amazing samples as well.  Be one of the first to own a Pink Ink Stamp.

2 New Collections from Graphic 45!

We’ve all been waiting anxiously for the next big launch from Graphic 45 and boy, they did not disappoint! It starts with the lively, wondrous beauty that is the Bohemian Marketplace collection. We’ve got collection packs in both 12x12 and 8x8, the complete set of individual papers, along with all the accompanying embellishments, ranging from the combo 12x12 sticker sheet, a variety of chipboard, and their fun punch out banners, tags, and pockets. And if that’s not enough (and really, when is it ever?) we also have the complete line of their brand new, stunning Steampunk Spells collection. Yep, all of it, the 12x12 and 8x8 collection packs, the 6x6 coordinating paper pads, all of the embellishments, and all of the individual papers as well. It’s a visual feast of intricate designs, richly saturated colors, and clever, whimsical patterns. You won’t want to miss out on a single piece! (But hurry...you know how this goes!)

Welcome Heather Telford

 We are so excited to be the first store in the United States to host Heather Telford, designer for Penny Black stamps and author of the very popular Bits & Pieces blog!  Heather will be teaching a series of classes this weekend.  These classes have been full for a while, but as always happens, unexpected emergencies creep up at the last minute, and so we find we have 1 opening in both Saturday morning's Splatters & Sponges class as well as Sunday afternoon's workshop (see photo below).

If you find yourself with a free morning or afternoon, make plans to join us for this very special event!  Please call the shop to reserve your space asap!  703-435-0051.

Paper of the Month

Have you seen the new Paper of the Month?  Vintage Summer, by Little Yellow Bicycle, captures the sweet simplicity of summer. The fresh, crisp patterns and beautifully crafted embellishments will add a delightful touch to yoru summer projects. Drop by and check out the full collection, icluding 9 double-sided 12x12 pattern papers, die cut packs, stickers, chipboard and adorable stick pins!

No Interference!

Marilynn and I went to a trade show at the end of April, and one of the products we were SO excited about was Wow Embossing Powder, by a company in the UK!  Their powders have a wonderful range of colors, and they don't flake off easily (they are almost "flexible).  For Thursday's make-and-take, we are playing with the "Pearl" colors, which behave like "interference" colors - the darker the cardstock, the more you will see the opalescent colors!  This card uses a medium cardstock, so the green is just a hint of color.  But Marilynn has also prepared other samples for you to look at that show the intensity of the color on much darker cardstock.  So so cool!  Stop in, make this fabulous summer greeting to share with a friend, and see a new product that we are extremely excited about!!! 

Fun in June- Mark Your Calendars!

We have so much fun planned in June, that you will definitely want to join us!

First, this weekend (June 15 and 16), we are so happy to welcome guest artist Heather Telford to the store.  

Curious about the popcorn machine at the top of this post?  It is in honor of our upcoming "Unconventional Convention" at the store on Friday, June 21st and Saturday, June 22.  We were disappointed that the Great American Scrapbook Show wasn't returning to Chantilly this year, and we wanted to do something to recreate the excitement of a convention! We'll have free make-and-take projects from some of the best designers in the industry, booth shopping, grab bags for purchase, a popcorn machine AND best of all, you don't have to stand in line to pay admission! This event is absolutely FREE!

We will kick off the event on Friday, June 21 with SPECIAL HOURS of 10 - 8. The fabulous folks from Sweet n' Sassy will be here with their entire booth and a series of make-and-take and demo projects running throughout the entire day!

The "elves" will work their magic overnight to transform the classroom, because on Saturday, June 22, we'll be hosting the fine folks from JustRite Stamps! Darsie Bruno, popular designer and creator of the blog Crafting with Darsie will be leading demos from 11-12 and again from 2-3 featuring JustRite stamps and coordinating Spellbinder dies, Gelatos and so much more! We'll also have a free make-and-take project for you to enjoy as well.

As if that weren't enough, we'll have author Mollie Cox Bryan here on Saturday from 1-5 for a book signing! Mollie is the author of Scrapbook of Secrets (which was nominated for an Agatha Award for the Best First Novel of 2012) and Scrapped (which has been nominated for a People's Choice Award from the Library of Virginia). The weekend promises to be a total blast, so plan to join us both days.

If you need a quick reference sheet for our "convention," you can print a convenient timeline under our "upcoming events" tab at the top of the blog.

Finally, Marilynn will be demoing the exciting Gelli Plates on Saturday, June 29th from 10:30am-12:30.  More info on this event will be in an upcoming blog post.

Hope to see you soon! 

Is it beach time yet?

Today's make it take it features summer stamps from Cat's Pajamas. These cute stamp set puts you in the mood for a beach vacation.

 

 

We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board

We are so excited that our We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Boards are here!  They were released at winter CHA, and they are a great way to make your own envelopes in a huge variety of sizes.  The nicest feature is that there is no template or tracing involved.  All you have to do is cut the paper to the correct size and use their guide to punch and score the paper to make an envelope.  Confusing?  Check out this video to see it in action:

If you want to go directly to Youtube to view the video, you can find it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xse8rBEDmso