Oh Christmas Tree

I love this "old fashioned" image from one of our newest stamp companies - Stampotique!  This large stamp is very easy to color - perfect for mass producing for your holiday cards.  Stop in Wednesday between 10 & 8 to make one for yourself. 

Retro Fun!

This is our LAST Thursday FREE make-and-take!

Beginning next week - July 1, the FREE make-and-take will move to Wednesdays.

So, be sure to stop by Thursday between 10 & 8 and celebrate the end of a Thursday tradition (and anticipate the beginning of a new Wednesday tradition!)

We will be creating this fabulous birthday card with fun and feisty stamps from Art Impressions (colored by Copic markers) in anticipation of Sandy Allnock's arrival in a couple of weeks.

 Come celebrate with us!

A sweet treat for you!

Valentine's Day may be over, but it's still the perfect season for candy (well....every season is candy season in my opinion!)

Join us this Thursday between 10 & 8 and create this card for your favorite "peep" using stamps and dies from My Favorite Things.  We'll add some coloring with Copics and sponging.  Fun - and calorie free!!!

Feeling Fallish?

We have another sample using this stamp here in the shop.  It is done in spring colors and looks completely different.  Marilynn changed the color scheme to reflect the change in season (quite frankly, I prefer her take on it - it's a lot more subtle) and the stamp has a whole new life.  The tones are soothing - just want you'd want as you are recuperating!

Join us this Thursday between 10 & 8 to make this card.  You'll be shading with Copic markers to create depth to the water can.  Pretty!

Remember, the make-and-takes are FREE and you don't need to register.  Can't wait to see you!

It's part of the Birthday Suit!

Posted with Blogsy

Don't you just love the Art Impression ladies?  They are sure to bring a smile to the face of whomever receives this card!  Stop in Thursday between 10 & 8 to make this card for yourself.  We're coloring and shading with Copics.  And, check out all the other Art Impressions ladies (and funny phrases) for more card inspiration (or for a good laugh)!!!  The Thursday make-and-take project is always FREE, and you don't need a reservation!

Doodle Art!

Need a quick card?  Why not give the Doodle paper from Bo-Bunny a try?  We used two different patterns to create this whimsical card.  The flower is actually cut out from a 12x12 sheet of floral paper (what a great idea if you have paper that you think is too "busy" - just use parts of it!!!) and then colored with Copic markers.  The sentiment is from a new clear set from Mama Elephant - one of our new companies here at the shop!  Stop in Thursday between 10 & 8 and make a quick card to let someone know you care.  Love it!

Egg-stra Special Tree!

This "stick tree" from Stamps by Judith is one of the most versatile stamps you can own.  Any number of their little peg stamps will completely change the look and season - don't you love a stamp you can use over and over and over again?!?!

This Thursday's FREE make-and-take card features the new Mini Blending tool from Ranger to create the shading around the edges of the card.  This little tool is round instead of rectangular, so it's easier to blend without getting rough edges.  You'll also get to play with Copic markers to create the colorful eggs.  Stop in any time between 10 & 8 and "relax"!

Just as a reminder - we will not be having our regular Thursday FREE card next Thursday - April 3.  Instead, stop by between 4 - 7 for a FREE demonstration with Tammie Wilson of Faber-Castell.  She has tons of ideas, tips and techniques to share with you!

Dino-Mite!!!

In the spirit of the season, we are honoring GREEN in this Thursday's FREE make-and-take card.  This card features a new set from Lawn Fawn.  Marilynn suggested this would make a great kid's birthday card, but I think it could also work for your friends who are as old as the dinosaurs...... 

Stop in between 10-8 and make this card for yourself.  You'll enjoy a time of coloring and shading with Copic markers, and you'll use the new Colorbox blending tool to add a hint of color around the circle (you can compare it to the Tim Holtz tool and see what you think).  We'll add a touch of "dimension" with Washi tape.  Marilynn noted that Washi tape gives the appearance of ribbon, but it's flat and easily mailed.  Good point!!!  Hope to see you Thursday!

Brrrr...it's colder than the bottom of the sea!

Goodness!  The Farmer's Almanac said this would be a rough winter, and so far it's proven right!  Tuesday is supposed to be cold, but we'll have the heat cranked, so come over and enjoy some warm company!  For Tuesday's FREE Learn at Lunch demo, I will be sharing tips for working with HoneyPop.  One of the things I love about the HoneyPop sets is that you can use the stamps without the HoneyPop paper to make a quick card.  You know I'm all about getting a lot of bang for the buck!

But, I especially LOVE the extra pizzazz you get when you use HoneyPop on the inside of the card!  It looks so hard, and yet it isn't!  That's my second most favorite crafting thing :-)  Inky Antics has added a new feature to their sets.  Each one now comes with a HoneyPop image that allows you to create borders too.  So it can be used on the front of the cards as well.  Wahoo!

Join me between 12 and 2 tomorrow to find out more!  And, while you're here, spend $25 in merchandise or classes and pick up your 2014 Coupon Card.  You can save lots of money!  Yay!

Let your Light Shine!

Each month, we receive a fabulous idea board from Inky Antics.  This month's cards offer great inspiration for your holiday cards.  It was hard for Marilynn to choose, but she selected the street lamp - which on the board is a stunning shaker card.  She wanted to show a simpler way to use these stamps (in case you need to make A LOT of cards).  Stop in Thursday and make this lovely Christmas card - using Copic markers and layered papers that mimic the Street Lamp motif (Marilynn is a very clever girl!).  Be sure to check out the Shaker card sample using the same stamps - very, very cool!  Our Thursday make-and-takes are always free and are available any time between 10 - 8.

So Punny!

I'm not sure what it says about me, but I love a good pun!  I also really, really love cheese.  So.....is this card perfect for me, or what????  Join us Thursday between 10 & 8 and make one of these cards absolutely FREE!  In this card, Marilynn used a "Twinchie" (a 2" square piece of matboard) as her stamping surface.  The stamp and phrase are by a new company we just added to the shop - Gourmet Stamps.  They have lots of fun puns and images to color!  We used Copics to color and shade the images - shading really adds depth to a simple graphic. 

Thankfully, this cheese is not Munster - because that would make it 2/3 of a pun.... P  U 

(Get it???)  Sigh......

What a Scene!

This card is ADORABLE!  I love how Marilynn has made use of the fence card Accu-cut to create a spring scene!  She added texture with some ribbon weaving (look closely - it's very clever) and then colored the stamped image (Inky Antics) with Copics.  There is nothing like a little coloring to perk up your day - so stop in and do some on Thursday anytime between 10 - 8.  Absolutely FREE! 

Thankful for Spring!

Seriously - it is spring, isn't it???  Join us tomorrow (Thursday) between 10 & 8 and we'll encourage spring to show up too!  I love these sunny flowers by Impression Obsession.  Perfect for coloring with any medium (we're using Copic markers).  Look how the sentiment is "grounded" with the lace accent underneath and the pennant shape on the right. Clever design!  No reservations required, and the card project is free.  Come in by!!!

Fun With Strawberries

Thursday's free card features yummy berries and Valentine colors.  This is one of the new clear sets from Hero Arts, so it makes "strawberry placement" a breeze!  No stamp positioner necessary!  The strawberries are colored with Copic markers, and you'll notice there is a simple "highlighting" technique to give them dimension.  This sweet card will have you thinking "spring"!  What's not to enjoy?????  Stop in Thursday between 10 & 8 and relax with some FREE coloring! 

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Snow Writer...everybody sing!

Am I showing my age if I confess that the Snow Writer pen from Marvy Uchida makes me think of the Low Rider song?????  Pitiful, I know.....

Anyway, the pen is fantastic!  Simply apply it anywhere you want the effect of snow, heat it and watch it puff up like magic!  For Tuesday's learn at lunch demo, we'll create this card front  using Copic Marker Refills to create the background.  We'll then stamp this image (Memory Box) and add snow!!!!  I added a hint of glitter on the snow to make it really shimmer, but the effect is just as nice if you are "glitter-phobic".  You can decide!  Stop in any time between 12 & 2 on Tuesday, and let's play!!!

A little rain makes everything better!

Finally, after a brutally hot and dry summer, my grass is greening up and starting to fill in.  Just in time for fall :-)  That makes for a "blooming good day", don't you think?  Stop in Thursday between 10 - 8 and make this adorable card.  I love how Marilynn took a simple image and really spiffed it up using patterned paper.  Why didn't I think of that?  I also like how she "anchored" the sentiment with a little bit of twine.  This is one cute card!!  See you tomorrow!

Love your Curves!

One of the benefits of clear stamps is that you can shape them into interesting curves, waves and semi-circles.  You can cut them and stack them, and they are easy to line back up.  Fun!  For this Thursday's FREE make-and-take, Marilynn "curved" two clear border stamps by Hero Arts, and after stamping, cut the white card stock to mimic the curve.  It gives the appearance of motion, I think.  She then colored the butterflies with Copic markers, and used Copics to color the silk butterfly in the lower right corner to match.  What a great, summer birthday card!  Stop in tomorrow between 10 & 8, and make one for yourself!

Card that POPs!

The card for this week's FREE make-and-take is practically a work of art!  Marilynn used a technique that was featured in the latest issue of Just Cards magazine (which we have at the shop - and this issue is particularly good).  The focal image is actually a new background stamp from Impression Obsession.  One of the things that scares people off from these large stamps is the idea of trying to get multiple colors onto it.  This technique easily solves that challenge.  Marilynn embossed the image on black card stock with white embossing powder.  She then added color to the bursts with Copic markers.  Join us Thursday between 10 & 8 and find out how easy this is.  Plus, you'll be feeling festive when you're done!

So pretty!

This Thursday's FREE card project features the Jumbo Iris stamp from Stampendous.  It's part of a cling set that also includes the design element that is repeated down the left-hand side.  I love everything about this card - the design, the images, the sentiment, the colors - everything!  The iris was colored with Copic markers and then enhanced with a spotlighting technique using the new Frantage Aged Embossing Enamels.  Not only does this technique add wonderful texture to the card, but it also makes the flower look real!  You know you will kick yourself if you miss this project, so drop what you're doing and get in here!  The supplies and instructions are available Thursday from 10 - 8. 

Add the Bling!

Hmmm, sorry this tag is upside down. I've had this problem before on Facebook, and now I'm having it on blogger too. Modern technology....sigh.... The picture was taken with an iPad, and even though I've saved it as a new file on my PC, it won't show up correctly in blogger. This problem is not going to be solved by me today, so I'll just move on (with apologies). Anyway, this tag features the brand new Smooch Glitz, which is the product Laura and I were most excited about at the recent trade show we attended! You'll see it's brilliant shine on the leaves (if you turn your head just right......). Jenn colored the image with Copic markers and then applied the Smooch Glitz over the top. The effect is between Glitter Glue/Stickles and Spica pens in terms of dimension and opacity. Stop in Tuesday between 12 & 2 and see everything right side up!