So Much New!

I'm not going to lie.....this is going to be a rather long post.  So much arrived today, and we wanted to share.  First, Staz On.  They have a brand new size, packaging, and colors!  

Staz On ink will dry on a multitude of surfaces, and the new mini pads consist of 9 new colors as well as 3 existing full-sized colors.

Next, we have Tsukineko's new Vertigo sheets.  They come in a variety of patterns and will reflect and refract light to create dazzling visual effects.  The sheets are sturdy, but they can be cut with scissors or a paper trimmer as well as die cut with most embossing machines.  You can stamp them with a variety of inks as well as emboss on them.  Fun!

We also have the new line of Irresistible sprays that add textured color to your projects.  The colors match the Memento ink line and add vibrant, fade-resistant color.  Tsukineko says that the colors "can be sprayed, brushed, dabbed, or stamped onto porous and non-porous surfaces" and that "colors are mixable for your own custom hues Use with water for a unique watercolor effect, or with dye and pigment inks for a high-impact resist effect."

Are you a fan of the neon craze?  How about these new pads?  They are:

• Luscious pigment ink with eye-popping color
• 7 dynamic colors that are striking on both light and dark colored cardstock
• Highly fade resistant, blendable archival ink
• Available in full-size inkpads and inkers

We get asked about metallic inkpads all the time.  The Golden Glitz Delicata is one of our favorites, and now there is a Silver version.  The ink does not tarnish or lose its luster, and it is faster drying than other metallic inks.

Attention mixed-media artists...we have fun new products from Faber Castell.  

First, we have Chalk Board Paint:

• Chalkboard Paint is a dynamic medium containing actual chalkboard properties when applied, great for contrast in mixed media projects.
• Use to create a dark surface for use with pastel pencils, metallic pens, or Stamper’s Big White Pen.

Next, they made Whipped Spackle:

•  Create shaped dimensions and textured surfaces with Whipped Spackle, a versatile medium that will work on any surface.

There is a brand new board from Great Impressions.  Can you say Spring fun?

Of course, Sweet 'n Sassy is here with their entire booth.  They will only be here through Saturday, March 1st, so be sure to stop by if you have the chance.

They may have brought a few samples with them.  Don't forget to bring your camera!

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New Penny Black and More

You are going to do a little happy dance when you see how much Penny Black arrived at the store!  We are posting a copy of the sample board that arrived to give you a little sneak peek.  Unfortunatly, the picture doesn't really show the shimmer and glitter very well.

We received brand new clear stamps, cling stamps, wood stamps, stencils, and dies from Penny Black.  There are cute animals to color, Spring images, flowers, borders, fantastic words, decorative backgrounds, and so much more.  Come in and have a look!

Finally, don't forget that Sweet N' Sassy will be here Friday night to teach a class and all day Saturday with a trunk show (they are bringing their entire convention booth).  Students in class will get an early look at the products and will be able to use their 10% class discount on their purchases.  On Saturday, the wonderful ladies from Sweet N' Sassy will be doing free demos of their products and will be on hand to answer any questions you have about their stamps and dies.

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More Fun with Gelatos!

Gelatos are just so sweet we can't stop playing with them!!!  For this Thursday's free make-and-take card, we created a stunning, quick background with three colors of Gelatos, blended with a reservoir pen.  We then stamped a silhouette image from Wow (and speaking of Wow, we have completely restocked their fabulous embossing powders, including some new colors.  We also have new molds for spring - butterflies, flowers and more - for making your own embellishments and jewelry.)  But I digress - stop in this Thursday between 10 & 8 and make this all-occasion card to share with someone special!

New to the Store

A Graphic 45 release is always a welcome addition to the store, and we are thrilled to have three new collections of paper along with coordinating stamps and embellishments. The "Botanical Tea" collection is absolutely going to blow you away. It has soft pink and blue tones, and the illustrations are absolutely stunning. The "Good ol Sports" collection has vintage sports themes on one side and patterns on the flip side that are perfect for masculine cards (stripes, stars, etc). Finally, the "By the Sea" collection features deep blues and reds and has fun nautical images. For those of you who are ready to say goodbye to winter and hello to warm summer days, this line of paper is just for you! If the paper isn't enough for you, check out the chipboard embellishments, metal brads, key holes, keys, washi tape, tags and stamps. Yipppeee!

 

Speaking of washi tape, we received a large shipment of tape from We R Memory Keepers. There are so many color options including a rainbow pack with fun narrow-sized tape.

Bunnies! Rubbermoon has really cute bunnies for Spring that are absolutely perfect for coloring.

 

 

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Demo and more Demos!

UPDATE:  Here are the samples.  Even though there is snow, we're still playing.  I ain't got no time for more snow!!!! [major frown face]

Greetings all!  I just got back from PA last night, so I don't have my samples made for tomorrow's Learn at Lunch demo featuring the fabulous Distress Paint Daubers from Ranger.  Rest assured, I'll have something by tomorrow (it's not technically the very last minute yet), but I wanted you to know that there is a FREE demo tomorrow from 12-2, and you should join me :-)

Also, the fabulous folks from Sweet 'n Sassy will be setting up their tradeshow booth this Saturday, and, contrary to what I said in my previous email, they WILL be demoing their stamps and dies all day (10-4 with a break for lunch).  So, that's two times this week I hope to see your lovely faces.  Now, back to making samples........

Circle Gelli Plates

We received a shipment of circular Gelli Plates, and a lot of people have been asking about the differences between the circle plates and the standard rectangles.  Gelli Arts made a video that will give you lots of ideas on how to use a circular plate:




You can also watch the video directly on YouTube here.

Spring Sample Board

Spring stamps have started arriving at the store, and boy, are we ready for them!  Is anyone going to miss winter?

The new Stampendous board has lots of Spring ideas featuring House Mouse designs and flowers.  We have all the stamps featured on the board as well as the embellishments they used to decorate.  There is Fresh Green Crushed Glass Glitter, Rose Pearl Glitter, Pastel Pink Glitter, and the Encrusted Jewel Kit that is loaded with embossing powders and shiny metallic fragments.  The top center card uses the Jewel Kit for a dynamite effect.

In addition to our scheduled classes, we have lots of other events planned.  There are guest artists, a trunk show, and a sales representative from Dreamweaver coming to give us a free demonstration.  I just updated the "Store Events" tab at the top of the blog so that you can read about all the fun stuff we have planned and mark your calendars.

Penny Black called and said our two orders shipped today.  We will be restocking favorites as well as receiving new products from CHA.  Is it wrong if I stand at the door with my nose pressed against the glass waiting for the boxes to arrive?

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So many possibilities!

 Did you see these new Quatro stamps from Repeat Impressions?  They can be a little intimidating when you see them as a large stamp (although we have some great samples in the shop doing just that!)  So, we wanted to show you some of the possibilities of breaking the images up and making multiple cards.  Thursday's make-and-take features one of the blocks on the front (along with an accent of washi tape and twine).

 

Open the card and note that we used the sentiment and the individual coffee cup on the inside!  So clever and cute!!!!

After you make your own card, stop by the register and check out all of Marilynn's other samples using pieces from that same stamp.  Seriously, the possibilities are endless!!!!  Fun!!!!

Ranger Alcohol Inks

At CHA this year, Ranger introduced 6 new colors of Alcohol Inks.  These colors are wonderfully vibrant, and are new additions to the Ranger family (in other words, they are not the traditional "lights", "brights" and "earthtones").  Alcohol inks can be used on any non-porous surface, so join Angela this Tuesday from 12 - 2 to see how easy they are to use on Glossy Cardstock and Shimmer Sheetz!  They are super quick-drying, translucent, blendable fun!!!

New Products and Stamp at the Store!

Forgive this post if it gets a bit long, but we have lots to share! 

First, are you tired of snow and being stuck at home? Well, why not come work on a project at the store this weekend? We have no scheduled classes for Saturday, Feb 15 or Sunday, Feb 16, so the classroom is yours to use. Bring a lunch and spread out at one of our tables. Personally, I would take advantage of the space for messy projects such as Gelli plates or anything involving sprays!  There is no cost or registration.  All you have to do is show up and grab a spot.

Now, new products....

We have all the new colors of Distress Paints and Stickles.  The new paint colors are: Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick, Dried Marigold, Squeezed Lemonade, Shabby Shutters, and Peacock Feathers.  The new Stickles colors are Neon Flamingo, Grape Crush, Peacock, and Twilight.  Don't the colors look perfect for Spring?

Next, Wendy Vecchi has new colors for her Archival Ink line.  Archival inks are give you long lasting results and are permanent on many surfaces. They create crisp, waterproof stamped images that won’t bleed when used with water-based inks.  This particular line is meant to remind you of a vintage country garden with colors such as: Carnation Red, Dandelion, Leaf Green, Forget Me Not, Hydrangea, and Tree Branch.

Dylusions Sprays!  We can't get enough of these bold sprays.  They make any card or journal page really pop.  The new colors of sprays are: Pomegranate Seed, Tangerine Dream, Chopped Pesto, Polished Jade, Ground Coffee, and Slate Gray.  Awesome!

Rosie's Roadshow.  Super-cute new samples and stamps.  We received all the images and sayings to recreate these great Spring cards.

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New, New, New!

Well, it seems as though another snowstorm is in the works.  Do you have craft goodies to keep you busy if you are stuck at home?  We have lots of great new products from Ranger in case you are in need of a new "toy."

First, we have all three packs of the new Distress Ink mini pads.  They have the same ink as the larger pads, but they are much more portable and stack on top of each other to save space.

Next,we have brand new cling stamps from Ranger's latest mixed media artist, Dina Wakley.  The middle "texture" set looks so practical for fans of mixed media as well as card artists.

Are you a fan of stencils?  Dyan Reavely's latest designs are here!  She has fantastic geometric designs.

Speaking of stencils.....if you are a fan of stencils and are looking for ways to take care of them, why not try the new Martha Stewart brush and stencil cleaner? 

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Stamps and Coordinating Dies

 

Impression Obsession has started to release stamps with coordinating dies, and we would like to show you how they work.   We have the Conversation Hearts stamp and coordinating die in the store, and we are anxiously awaiting the new insect images/die and cute animals/die to arrive.

To use the stamps with coordinating die, you first stamp the entire image onto paper with whatever ink you want.  The image includes a stamped box around it:

Next, get out the coordinating die.  The Conversation Hearts die has 9 hearts to match the 9 sayings:

Tape the die on top of the words.  Notice that the square die is the same size as the stamped block.  This allows for easy alignment.  Once you have the die on top of the sayings, use a little repositionable tape to hold it in place and then run it through a die cutting machine:

You will be left with 9 conversation hearts with the sayings stamped in the middle:

You could repeat the process using different colors of paper or cut them out of white paper and then color them (Copic Markers used here).

Conversation Hearts make a great Valentine card, but you can use them for any occasion including a general "hello" card or weddings or anniversaries.  We will let you know when the other stamp/die sets arrive.  We love them!

Oh How Sweet!

I just love Gelatos.  No - I'm not talking about the Italian ice cream, although I love that, too!!!  I'm talking about the highly pigmented, water-soluble coloring medium from Faber-Castell.  They are so easy to work with and you can use them in tons of ways!  Stop by the store on Tuesday between 12 & 2 and let me show you!  We'll create multicolor background washes in a couple of different ways; we'll stamp with them; and we'll use them to create a stunning resist. 

And now there's even more to love!!!!  Faber-Castell has released the Gelatos in "double-scoops" - individually packaged Gelatos with twice as much product inside.  Wahoo!!!!  Hope to see you Tuesday!

Coming Soon

We have several new products coming to the store that we would like to share with you.  The first is the Little B Perfect Postioner.  It is an adhesive mat that is designed to work with any die-cutting platform and with any thin metal dies.  It allows you to align your dies exactly where you want them on your paper.  Yeah!  This product was so popular at CHA that it was the winner of the "CHA Hot 20."  The video above will tell you more about the product, or you can view the video directly here.



The second product we are excited about is the new Spellbinders Tool-n-One. It is a portable tool that performs all kinds of functions such as piercing, folding, paper removal, inking, distressing, curling in more. We are particularly excited about being able to remove bits of paper from our intricate dies. The video above will show you how to use the tool, or you can view the video directly here.


Finally, we are thrilled that we will be getting the new Tim Holtz Distress Marker Spritzer that will allow you to get airbrush effects on your craft projects. The spritzer showed up briefly in a Ranger video we posted previously, but here is a new video that just focuses on the spritzer. You can also view the video directly on YouTube here.

If you are excited about any of these products and would like to have them, please call the store or email Angela (angela@ahappystamper.com), and we would be happy to save one for you when they arrive!

All in the Details

I spy with my own little eye.....

The detail in this Impression Obsession stamp is fantastic!  I love those hidden little bunnies.  You could make them pop out a little bit more if you colored the grass, but sometimes there just isn't time for that!  So, add contrast and interest with the scalloped card layer and the twine and voila - done!  Quick, cute and fabulous!  Join us Thursday between 10 and 8 to make one for yourself - FREE and no registration is required!

Did you miss the Open House?

Our winter Open House was a success, and we are glad so many of you could come!  Stamp communities are special, and we were really happy to see lots of our friends and family.

We also want to thank you for the enormous amount of donations you brought for our community outreach. You were incredibly generous, and the volunteers from Bright Spaces who picked up the donations couldn't believe how much was collected.  Thank you.

We introduced two new companies at the store over the weekend. The first is Repeat Impressions. They have such funny and quirky sayings as well as supplies to make your own waterfall cards. The nice thing about their kits is that everything you need is already cut and scored:

The second company we introduced is a clear stamp company called Jillian Vance Designs.  They have sets of clear stamps as well as sets that include coordinating dies.  Practical!  There are mustaches, purses, nautical, and more.  One of my favorite sets is the "Peeps" set, just in time for Spring and Easter.

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Sweet 'n Sassy Returns!

We are so excited to announce that Sweet 'n Sassy will be back, not only with a fabulous trunk show, but also with a brand new class featuring their latest stamp and die releases!  Start your weekend of fun with a workshop led by owner Korin and design team member Cathy.  You'll learn tips and techniques for layering color, images and dies to create stunningly detailed cards.  Lovely!  This class, on Friday evening, February 28, is sure to fill up quickly, so reserve your space today!

Then join us Saturday, March 1 between 10 - 4 for an incredible trunk show.  They bring their entire trade show booth and fill the classroom with card samples (bring your camera!!!!!) and product and their sunny, knowledgeable selves to talk you through how to recreate their cards.  The trunk show is free and no reservation is required.  See you there!