Painting with Pens

Dyan Reaveley released two paint pens quite some time ago - white and black.  These fine tip pens are fabulous for journaling and doodling.  She has just released a 6-pack of colors, and Angela can't get enough!  The coverage of acrylic paint with the detail of a fine point pen - awesome!!!

Join Angela between 12 & 2 on Tuesday and try them for yourself.  She will teach you how to store them, prime them, and "unskin" them.  Intrigued???  See you there!

Amber Waves of Grain!

We have loved the Ombre Pads from Hero Arts for quite some time.  So, imagine our delight when they introduced two new ombre pads - this time in a metallic pigment ink.  The pigment ink is nice and thick (opaque), so it pops right off dark colored card stock!  Plus, you can easily emboss it for extra shine on your shimmer!

Join Angela between 12 & 2 on Tuesday and get your hands on these beauties.  You'll be hooked!

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". 

Pan Pastels

I must admit - I'm a fan!  Join me Tuesday between 12 & 2 for a FREE demo on Pan Pastels, and I'm pretty sure you will leave a fan as well.

These are incredibly creamy, pigmented chalks.  They are so easy to blend, and apply - even to large surfaces.  We'll create backgrounds, we'll use them with stamps and stencils, and we'll even do some "reverse stenciling", where we actually remove color with an eraser. 

This is a "can't miss" demo, so be there or be square!

Viva le Pen!

This Tuesday's Learn at Lunch demo features some of the crafting pens from Viva Décor.  These pens are fantastic, because they have a lower water content than other similar pens on the market, so they actually dry faster and stay more dimensional.  We love them!

Stop in between 12 & 2 tomorrow and give them a try.  Use the Pearl pen for a luscious iridescence or try the Glitter Liner for a more "sparkly" look.  Or, do what I did and combine them! 

We're back! With a new make-and-take!

Welcome to 2014!  We will be open Wednesday, January 1 from 12-5.  Stop in and see the new Great Impressions board, with fun cards that could be used for Valentine's Day or any occasion!  Remember, the stamp of the month is available at 50% off during January.  And then, join us for our FREE Thursday make-and-take project.  This card features stamps from Inky Antics and Penny Black and makes great use of Ranger's Liquid Pearls for a whipped embellishment.  We finished the card with a quick swipe of colored pencils.  Fun and great for anyone!  Hope to see you often in 2014!

Penny Black Make-and-Take card

This Thursday's FREE make-and-take card features a stunning Penny Black flower that is perfect for coloring.  We're using water-soluable pencils and a Dove blender pen to achieve this soft, watercolor effect.  Try your hand at die-cutting with this Memory Box dragonfly.  You'll cut the body out of card-stock and the wings out of vellum - it really looks like wings!  Stop in, make a card, shop for Penny Black products at 10% off, get raffle entries for each $10 you spend on Penny Black items, place a catalog order with Penny Black and take 10% off that order as well.....  that's just FUN!!!!

Delightful Dimension!

Join us Tuesday, March 5, for the next in our series of Demos with Dee!  Dee has been inspired lately by some of the work being done on the Penny Black blog, and wants to share some of the tips and techniques she's discovered in working with Ultra Thick Embossing Powder!  It's hard to see the dimension in this tag, but it's breathtaking in person!  Stop in between 12-2 on Tuesday, and let her show you some fun new methods for working with UTEE!  No reservation is required.

Then, if you're enjoying the look of extra dimension, why not come back Tuesday evening for the class with Guest Artist Cheryl Boglioli?  She has created an amazing canvas using Beeswax and Encaustic wax for a fabulous collage look!  There are still a few spaces available for this workshop, so reserve yours today!

Life's a Journey

Marilynn made this card for a friend of hers and was so pleased with the outcome that she's sharing it with us all! Join us Thursday to make this all-occasion card. We're using Rosie's Roadshow and Penny Black images, colored beautifully with Pebbles Chalks. These chalks are so creamy that they are easy to blend and provide a stunning matte finish. See you anytime Thursday between 10 & 8!

Make it a Purrfect day!

Our FREE Thursday make-and-take card this week features a stamp from Penny Black that has so many possibilities! You could use flocking on the cat. You could bling up the collar. You could color the cat. Make changes depending on how many cards you have to make - add more detail for fewer cards, or if you are making mass quantities, go simple. Enjoy!

Ah Memories!

Do you remember much about your graduation? I have vague recollections about the actual ceremony when I graduated from high school. Mostly I remember that my dad gave me a "toolkit for girls". All of the tools had pink handles and were labeled: "hammer", "screwdriver", etc. My memory from my college graduation ceremony was that the Chicago Bulls were in the playoffs, and they kept interrupting keynote speaker Studs Terkel to announce the score. I'm sure this year's crop of graduates will have their own special memories. Why not make your card to them special, too? This card features stamps by Penny Black. For the FREE make-and-take on Thursday, you'll make the card in blue and orange. But it could be easily adaptable to any combination to match the school colors!