Delicate Shimmer

Join Angela this Tuesday any time between 12 & 2 for the FREE Learn-at-lunch demo.  She will show you some new techniques for stenciling with Gelatos.  They go on easier than virtually any other medium, they are water soluble but can be used on regular cardstock, and they are permanent once dry which makes layering a dream!  In addition, she'll show you how to add some shimmer on the cheap - with foil!  And best of all, there's no "drying time".  Fun!  See you there.

Subtle Collage

Join Angela this Tuesday between 12 & 2 for some fun with collage!  Angela has introduced you to Iridescent Creative Medium Gel in the past, and so she wanted to see what else it could do.  In this FREE Learn at Lunch demo, you'll get the opportunity to play with the gel on patterned paper, and we'll use the dried design as a resist for a Gelato and Distress Ink wash. 

Angela will also have other samples to share, including how vibrant the gels are on black cardstock, and examples of how fun they are to use on gelli plates!  Intrigued?  Stop by and nourish your brain with some learning at lunch!!!!

Bright and Cheerful!

You have to stop in and see this card in person.  It will bring a smile to your face!

We've done so many things with Gelatos over the years:  Watercolor washes; resist techniques; coloring on black glossy; coloring PolyShrink; creating spritzes; mixing with embossing paste; stamping - my goodness, the possibilities are endless.  Join Angela on Tuesday between 12 & 2 and make a card using a new technique with embossing folders and these fabulous water soluble pigment sticks!  And, if you have questions about any of the other techniques mentioned above - Angela is happy to answer them.  She loves her Gelatos and keeps them on her work surface all the time.  If you haven't tried these before - what are you waiting for?  They really are a sweet treat!!! 

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!

A Shimmery Wash

It's a little hard to tell from this photo (shimmery stuff is soooo hard to capture "on film"), but these flowers are a yummy, shimmery wash.  Join Angela to learn a quick way to use Watercolor Pencils and Perfect Pearls to create beautiful background washes (with control).  The FREE Learn at Lunch demo is every Tuesday between 12 & 2, and features different techniques each week.  Be there or be square :-)

Watercolor on Glossy?

I have shown you different techniques to do with Gelatos several times - and here's yet another one!!!  (Isn't it great?  I LOVE versatility in my supplies!)

I never imagined you could use a water soluble coloring medium on Glossy cardstock, but the thing that's so cool about Gelatos is that once they dry, they are permanent!  

Stop in Tuesday between 12 & 2 and give it a try.  It's fun and creative (you don't really know how it will turn out .... other than it will be cool!)  You don't need a reservation, and it's free.  I can't wait to show you!  I'll bring other samples, too, of the dozens of other things I've done with Gelatos. 

Simplify Stencil Art!

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Want to create colorful dimension with your stencils, but find working with paste frustrating?  Sometimes it's hard to control the amount of paste you're working with, and it ends up sliding under the stencil.  Angela has the solution :-)  Stop in Tuesday between 12 & 2 for a new technique - we'll work with Gelatos to create the color, and the Faber-Castell Glaze to achieve the dimension.  You'll be surprised how easy it is to control!

Sweet!

Join Angela any time between 12 & 2 on Tuesday and learn more about working with Gelatos.  They are one of the most versatile coloring media on the market today.  They are entirely water-soluble, but once they are dry, they are permanent.  This means they apply easily and can be layered without smearing or smudging the work done before.  You are going to love these!  Stop in tomorrow and try them for yourself.  You don't need a reservation, and the demo is completely free!

Translucent Beauty!

Join Angela this Tuesday between 12 & 2 and make your own Shrink Art embellishment.  This fabulous bird was cut from a die, colored with Gelatos and shrunk to fit perfectly with this background stamp.  Angela will show you some other coloring techniques, including alcohol inks and colored pencils.  She also show you how to create texture in your piece.  You can turn your projects into embellishments, jewelry, ornaments and more.  The Learn at Lunch is always FREE and no reservations are required.

Summer-set

We have another sample of this stamped image (by Stampendous) in the shop that is beautifully and meticulously colored.  (We'll have it on display).  But, this stamp also works, even if you don't have the time to do all of that coloring.  This "picnic at sunset" vibe was created using Gelatos.  I'm relaxed just looking at it (I'm also hungry - but then I'm always hungry).  Stop in Wednesday between 10 & 8 and enjoy a mini-vacation right here! 

Calm Seas Ahead!

This stamp image and phrase is one of our favorite offerings from River City Rubber Works.  It's just perfect when you can't find the right words. 

Join us this Thursday between 10 & 8 to make one for yourself.  (Remember that beginning July 1, the FREE make-and-take card project will move to Wednesdays). 

This card features brand new paper from the Fancy Pants Making Waves collection that is just as cute as it can be!  You'll also get a chance to work with Faber-Castell Paper Crafting Crayons.  These wax crayons are not water-soluble, but they do produce an interesting effect when blended with the Dove Blender tool.  Stop by to give it a try - no reservation required!

Sweet! Gelatos!!!

Stop in this Thursday any time between 10 - 8 to create this stunning birthday card.  We'll be playing with Gelatos both to color the image and to create a soft background wash.  Colored pencils accent the image.  This card makes a great card (obviously), but could also be framed as "the gift". 

Watercoloring with Pencils

During this Tuesday's FREE Learn at Lunch, Angela will be showing you several different ways to work with watercolor pencils.  We'll use them to create a quick background wash and then use a more saturated technique to color the focal image.  Stop in and play any time between 12 - 2.

Brand New Gelatos!

We are open today, Monday, March 2.  The sidewalks are dry and clear, so come on over!  We received 16 brand new colors of Gelatos, just in time for the Learn at Lunch demo tomorrow - Tuesday, March 3, from 12-2.  Come in and play with them!  If you've never used these highly pigmented watercolor sticks, you don't know what you're missing!  You can create washes with them, mix them with virtually anything and even stamp with them to create a stunning watercolor look.  And best of all, when they dry, they are permanent.  So you can layer and layer without fear of muddiness or 'reactivation'.  Let Angela show you all the fun you can have - and it's calorie-free!!!!

Whipped Gelatos!

Good grief!  This demo is going to make me hungry - and it's during lunch :-)

Join me to create this stunning, textured card!  We are mixing Gelatos with Texture paste to add texture to watercolor paper.  The fun thing about Gelatos is how easily they blend and react with water, yet once dry, they become permanent.  I'll also explain and show samples of a bunch of other things you can do with Gelatos!  Come be inspired!  And feel free to bring your lunch :-)

I Can't Resist

Well, actually I CAN resist - quite easily, in fact.  With Faber-Castell Paper Crafting Crayons.  Stop in on Tuesday between 12 & 2, and let Angela show you a ton of different methods for creating a resist using these convenient wax sticks.  And, let Angela bore you with tales of her trip to Puerto Rico (an added bonus, for sure!)

See you there!

India Ink and Markers

We love the Big Brush Markers from Faber-Castell.  They are filled with vibrant India Ink and are wonderfully easy to work with.  For this week's Free make-and-take card, we stamped our sentiment with black India Ink.  It's a nice, crisp, deep black that doesn't smear when you color over the top of it with more India Ink.  That's right - the Big Brush Markers contain fade-resistant india ink pigment inside.  We then created interest on the card by embossing a piece of red and placing it on top of a red card base (tone-on-tone doesn't distract from the sentiment, and you can really see the embossed panel because we popped it!)  Stop by Thursday between 10 & 8 to make one of these for yourself.  While you're here, check out the other Verses sentiments as well as HILARIOUS stamps from Riley & Co.  We guarantee you will laugh.  Seriously!

Big Fan of Big Brush Markers!

 Have you had a chance to play with the Big Brush Markers from Faber-Castell?  If not, then Tuesday is your chance!  These markers (with their nice firm tip, which makes coloring on your stamps a breeze) are filled with vibrant India Ink, so they are permanent and wonderful for layering on mixed media.  They blend easily, and they don't bleed through the back of your card stock.  Sooooo much to love!

Stop in Tuesday between 12 & 2 and color.  You can't get a better offer than that!

No Make-and-Take this Thursday!

"We interrupt this regularly scheduled program so that we can bring you the following special presentation."

The lovely lady pictured above is Tammie Wilson, artist extraordinaire from Faber-Castell!

She will be teaching a workshop Thursday morning from 10 - 1 (as of this moment, there are 3 spots left, so call the shop if you'd like to register) and then hosting a FREE demonstration Thursday afternoon from 4 - 7 on working with tons of the Faber-Castell products including Gelatos, Big Brush Markers, Pitt Pens, Chalkboard Paint and more!!!  You do not have to register for the FREE demo, just stop in! 

Since these fabulous activities will take up our classroom space, we will not be able to offer our regular Thursday make-and-take.  Join us next Thursday, April 10, when we'll be back with a FREE spring card project featuring Impression Obsession stamps :-)

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!