Chalk it up

Can you believe both of these backgrounds were created with Chalk Board Paint by Faber Castell?  You know Angela loves it when a product is super versatile, so this is bound to be a new favorite!  We've used it before on canvas, but it also works beautifully on cardstock!  You can create an incredibly matte finish with the look and feel of a chalk board, or you can get a much less opaque look - so stop in Tuesday between 12 & 2 and let Angela show you how. 

In addition to experimenting with Chalk Board Paint, Angela will also show you a new technique with Gelatos.  Fun!

Copic Event

Laura (http://stamp art.blogspot.com) will be working at the store tomorrow and offered to give an intro to Copic markers talk as well as answer any of your Copic coloring questions.  Learn about the various markers, discuss papers and inks, learn about what makes these pens special and more!  Or, bring in your coloring projects and pens and ask Laura for help if you you are struggling with your Copics.  This is a free event...  just stop in anytime between 12pm-5pm

A Whale of a Good Time

Wednesday's FREE make-and-take features a "center-step" card design from Paper Cut.  The Impression Obsession dies are enhanced by the mini background stamps (also by I.O.).  These stamps were designed with dies in mind - the patterns are the perfect size for most die cut images. 

Beat the heat - stop in Wednesday any time between 10 & 8 and make one for yourself!

Silhouette Stamping

Once I got started, I simply couldn't stop!

Join Angela between 12 & 2 this Tuesday for a frenzy of ideas for different ways to use silhouette stamps.  She'll show you background washes with Paper Soft, flipping the images with Gelli Plates, stamping on black glossy, creating a masked area and so much more.  You'll never believe two stamps could be so versatile!!!

New Stampendous

We are getting ready for the upcoming holidays and have been ordering for the Fall, Halloween, and Christmas.  As a heads up, people have been asking about the new Ranger products.  Yes, they have been ordered.  Was there anything in particular you wanted?  Enamel Accents in various colors?  New Archival inks?  Tim Holtz's new Crazy Dog stamps and dies?  Whatever it is, just let us know, and we will be happy to hold it for you when it arrives.

Back to the latest arrivals....  We have new stamps from Stampendous and metal dies from Dreamweaver.  Both have new products for Halloween and Christmas that you will love. First, the new wreath die set is so practical.  You can make wreaths for all of the seasons and the size is big enough that you could make cards as well as decorate placecards for your table, make tags, or embellish homemade treats and gifts:

 

Are you a fan of House Mouse images?  Well, we have those too.

Are you someone who Zentangles?  How about their new ornament set?

Watercolor musings

I always wanted to be a "real artist" - you know, the kind that wears a beret and waves a dripping paint brush around :-)  But I never could achieve the "carefree" appearance of watercolor.  My "overthinking" always showed through.  Thankfully, Impression Obsession understands my struggle!!!  I love their "watercolor wash" background stamp - the look I'm going for, without the beret!!!

Stop in Wednesday anytime between 10 & 8 to make one of these jaunty cards for yourself.  It is guaranteed to put a smile on the receiver's face!

Tuesday Free Demo

We are so excited about Tuesday's free Learn at Lunch from 12-2pm.  There will be a free demo explaining all the ins and outs of the MISTI stamping tool.  Dee is loaded with ideas to share including layered stamping (all the rage right now) as well as using the tool to stamp images onto coordinating dies.  You may already own a MISTI or have been curious about them, but now is your chance to get your hands on one and see the endless possibilities.  Come join the fun!

Concord and 9th and Stamping with Laura

Greetings everyone. Laura here. First, I want to let you know about impromptu stamping at the store tomorrow, Sunday July 17th from 1-3pm.  As some of you know, I work on the Impression Obsession design team, and they have an enormous Fall and Winter release coming out shortly.  There was a rush to finish the catalog, so I am working on some catalog samples this weekend using the new products.  I need to make some new "patterned paper" backgrounds using the new Cover a Card stamps, so I thought it might be a fun idea to work on them at Angela's tomorrow.  If anyone would like to stop by from 1-3pm to watch how I use the backgrounds as well as how to layer patterns and colors, feel free to join me.  You can simply watch, or even better, bring your own background stamps and supplies to get some crafting time in away from home.  I don't know about you, but I love to have stamped backgrounds ready to go for cardmaking!  

Concord and 9th:
There are not enough words to describe how much I love their new release.  It is amazing!  First, there is the "Take a Bough" die set.  I thought it was wonderful as it is since it has evergreen boughs, snowflakes, ornaments, and a star.  Then I noticed you can use the boughs to make a 3-D Christmas Tree!!!!

Here is what you can do with the snowflakes.  They layer beautifully:

You don't have to use the evergreen boughs to make a tree; you can also use them flat on a card or tag:

Speaking of practical, how about the Stripe Builder set?  Use it for the holidays as well as any occasion card you can think of.  It has thick lines, thin lines, wavy lines, and more.  It is also a good one to use for masculine cards (I know people struggle with those).

Continuing the theme of "practical," the new Joy stamps and dies can be used for the holidays as well as everyday occasions:

Side note- notice how the stripe builder can be used to make a plaid:

 

Love the Oh Christmas Tree set.  It has beautiful trees, ornaments and sentiments:

 

Are you a fan of color layering stamps?  Here is what you can do with the new Blossom Bundle stamp set:

 

You can even add the coordinating die for extra dimension:

Memory Box and Poppystamps

We are thrilled to have the new Memory Box and Poppystamps Fall and Christmas holiday release!  For those of you who love Fall and Halloween, there are haunted houses, ghosts, leaves, pumpkins, and spiders.  For people making holiday cards, there are lots of trees, snowflakes, poinsettias, and more.  There are elegant dies, stamps with coordinating dies, and stencils.  I don't know about you, but I am always so happy when I get my holiday cards made before the hectic schedule of the Fall and Winter begins.  Happy holiday crafting!

Neat and Tangled as well as Girls Night Out

It is hot outside and definitely calls for some indoor crafting time!  Luckily, our A/C is cranking and the store is a great place to hang out during the heat.

Don't forget that tomorrow night (Friday) is Girl's Night Out at the store.  It is a wonderful chance to work on a project, make stamping friends, and actually get some crafting done!  If you are interested, you can find out all of the sign up information here-  http://ahappystamper.com/classes/girlsnight10.htm

Need something new and fun to play with?  We have band NEW items from Neat & Tangled.  Here are some pictures to help inspire you:

 

 

 

 

 
Their new stencils are AMAZING!

 

Sequins!  In ocean color?  Yes please!