Which White?

Have you ever wondered which white inkpad is the best?  Or maybe, the better question is, what look are you trying to achieve?  There's a "white" for that!

Join Angela this Tuesday between 12 & 2 to demystify the white conundrum, and learn about the Delicata inkpad, too!  This highly metallic pad is a wonderful addition to your collection - and you'll see why once you play with it.

The Learn at Lunch demo is always FREE and no reservation is required.  See you there!

Layering Stamps & Dies

This week's Learn at Lunch features stamps and dies from Concord & 9th.  I love the versatility of these sets - you can make a one layer card; you can make a 3-D card; you can use the negative space to create a frame - the possibilities are truly endless!  Stop in and learn which inks are best for these solid stamps, learn how to create the rounded 3-D petal effect (and which adhesives work best for that) and so much more.  So much information packed into a short span of time - and all FREE!  Stop in any time between 12 & 2 on Tuesday and see what we're up to!

StazOn Studio Glaze Backgrounds

StazOn Studio Glaze creates a stain-glass effect on non-porous surfaces such as Vertigo, acetate, glass and more!  But, did you know you can also use it to create stunning backgrouds quickly?  You know how much I LOVE versatility in my products!

Join me (Angela) Tuesday between 12 & 2 to learn tips and techniques for many different ways you can work with Studio Glaze.  The Learn at Lunch demo is always free, and you don't need a "table reservation". 

Enameling with Distress Markers

UPDATE:  This demo has been postponed until Tuesday, February 2.  Hope to see you then!

Distress Markers are wonderful for watercolor, but when they dry, they are very matte.  Sometimes, I just want to "bling it up" a bit.  After all, we all need a little shiny in our lives sometimes :-)

Join me this Tuesday between 12 & 2, and we'll enjoy some relaxing watercoloring time.  And then we'll create the glossy enamel effect using Wink of Stella pens and embossing powder.  You will definitely be thinking of sunny weather and spring breezes in just a short period of time!

As always, the Learn at Lunch demos are completely free and you don't need a reservation.  Come on over!

Fall Shimmer!

This card is impossible to fully appreciate until you hold it in person!  A couple of years ago, Tsukineko introduced the most brilliant metallic inkpad in silver and gold called Delicata.  It is a metallic ink that actually dries in a reasonable amount of time (unheard of!), and it almost has a raised appearance - like you lightly embossed it.  Simply stunning!

Well, hold on your your hats, because they have just released this same yummy formula in Bronze and Copper - and they are available in a convenient 4-pack mini-case.  Great for storage!

Stop in this Wednesday between 10 and 8 to really see how stunning this ink is (and to make a card for yourself, of course).  We'll see you there!

Get Amplified!

It's a little hard to tell in this photo, but Neon Amplify adds more than just dimension and vibrant color!  You control how much dimension by how much you apply.  And, for Tuesday's Learn at Lunch, we'll be applying a very thin coat with a palette knife and a stencil.  When heated, the thin coat puffs to an almost fuzzy appearance - reminiscent of flocking.  It's stunning, not the least bit messy (like flocking) and dries instantly because it is heat-set.  You are going to love it! 

Stop in Tuesday between 12 & 2 and we'll also play with the Hero Arts Ombre ink pads and layering stencils!  It's completely free and no reservations are required.  See you there!

Reverse Dies and iZincs!

It's a PARTY!  Join Angela this Tuesday between 12 & 2 for a FREE demo featuring "reverse dies".  Instead of cutting out images that are then adhered to a card, reverse dies cut pieces of the card away, revealing whatever is beneath.

We'll have some fun creating the "beneath" as well.  This background was made with iZincs (when you see it in person, it really shimmers).  Angela will also bring her Color Bursts, if you'd like to play with those as well.

And, adding extra texture, the card base is the fabulous Dot Paper from Bazzill. 

So, what are you waiting for?  Come and party with us!

Easy Ombre Cards

Creating an "ombre" effect (where colors blend from light to dark) has required multiple inkpads and inkings in the past.  But not anymore, thanks to the Hero Arts Ombre Inkpads.  These tri-color cards make subtle, monochromatic cards a breeze!

Join Angela to learn all about multi-color stamping, and also check out some samples Paula created using these pads with a brayer and direct-to-paper techniques.  It's a tag-team effort!!! 

The learn-at-lunch demo is FREE on Tuesdays between 12 & 2, and no reservation is required.  See you there!

Depth with "Glass"

This card looks almost 3-D and like "stain glass" at the same time!  Join Angela Tuesday between 12 & 2 to find out about the latest product offering from Tsukineko - Staz On Studio Glaze.  This translucent gel is interesting in that it dries on all non-porous (as well as porous) surfaces, but it's water-based.  Win-win!  The 3-D effect is created by stamping on Vertigo film.  And, we're using one of the newest stamps by Memory Box - awesome!  Don't miss it!

Iridescent Creative Medium and the Week Ahead

 Want more options for working with stencils?  Join Angela this Tuesday between 12 & 2 and find out about Iridescent Creative Medium.  This very flexible paste looks "white" to the naked eye, but when applied to dark colors, the color intensifies dramatically - all in one step!!!  Stop by to play and watch magic happen before your eyes!

In addition to the free demo on Tuesday, there is a lot going on at the Happy Stamper this week!

Tuesday, March 26

Quick & Easy: May Flowers Waterfall Folio
Date: Tuesday, May 26
Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM or 6:00-9:00 PM

Join Donna for her latest "Quick & Easy" project! This month you will be creating a 8" x 4.5" chipboard folio with a photo mat waterfall on one side and a triple pocket on the other, complete with photo mat tag and mini-booklets! Add in the beautiful springtime papers from Webster's Pages Dream in Color collection, and you're all set! Attach photos and journaling to the waterfall mats, tuck in a gift card or other memorabilia in the pockets, and it makes a fabulous gift - perfect for graduation, bridal showers, birthdays, anniversaries...the list goes on! The class kit comes with a Cutting & Scoring Guide so you can make the folio again and again, using any theme papers you desire. The possibilities are endless! NOTE:  See webpage for additional information about the class

Thursday, March 28

Summerscapes
Date: Thursday, May 28
Time: 10:30 AM - 12:30 PM or 6:30-8:30 PM

Summerscapes is a continuation in our series of "Scapes" classes featuring Stampscapes stamps. This class is for people who have taken a Stampscapes class before and have used the Clearsnap stylis tool for coloring. This class will enhance your coloring skills with the stylis tool. We will be doing four cards which will leave time to focus on coloring. Students should bring: your basic kit and a stylis tool and oval tips, if you have them. 

Friday, March 29

Cover-a-Card Club
Date: Friday, May 29
Time: 6:30 - 8:00 PM
Fee: $12.00

Join Laura for this mini class that continues the exploration of techniques using Impression Cover a Card backgrounds. This month will be all about using Pan Pastel chalks with your backgrounds. Students will have the chance to make one completed card as well as two other backgrounds that they can use for their own cards. Students should bring: scissors, double-sided adhesive, gluestick. 

Saturday, March 30

Mega Mini Photo Folder #5: "Made from Scratch" Recipe Book
Date: Saturday, May 30
Time: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Fee: $75.00

Join Donna for the next project in her brand new, year long series of making Mega Mini Photo Folders! Each month, Donna teaches a brand new style of 7"x9" mega-mini folders that open up to a reveal a hidden world of flaps, pockets, tags, and more. Every folder is a brand new configuration! These little beauties are each designed to hold dozens of 4x6 photos, all while keeping a slim profile when folded closed. The folders are a soft spine and easily expand to fit as many goodies as you want to stash inside. Each month will also feature a new paper collection, some with a specific theme (like cooking, vacations, holidays) and some simply with the latest gorgeous paper collection. What's in store this month is Echo Park's fun, retro Made From Scratch cookbook themed collection, which you will be using in a folder specially designed to pack a ton of your favorite recipes. PLEASE NOTE: each class in this series is a stand-alone class, with separate registrations for each.

 

Sunday, March 31

10 in 10 Beach
Date: Sunday, May 31
Time: 2:00 - 4:00 PM

Are you ready for Summer and fun trips to the beach? Join Laura in making ten quick and easy cards featuring all things "beachy." The class uses brand new Cover a Card backgrounds as well as new stamps and dies from Impression Obsession in addition to products from Echo Park, Paper Smooches, and Kaiser Craft. Students will have the chance to use Copic Markers, Prismacolor pencils, watercolor pencils, and Pan Pastel chalks. Although the cards in this class are designed to be quick and easy, the class is designed for intermediate student who are comfortable working at a fast pace. Students should bring: Favorite double sided adhesive, gluestick, and foam mount tape.

Ahhhh, color!

Let's get some color into these dreary days!!!!  Join us this Thursday, March 19 any time between 10 and 8 and add a splash of color and creativity to your day!

We'll create the background with Memento Luxe inks, and then add even more luscious color with Dylusion Sprays.  Instead of spraying them, we poured the color, undiluted, into reservoir pens to color in small, controlled areas.  Stunning! 

We'll add some detail with the white Signo pen and watch the images really pop!  You won't want to miss this, so please join us!  Remember, the Thursday FREE-for-all really is FREE!

Get Amplified!

I have had a great time playing with COLOR!  Say it with me - "Spring has Sprung"!!!!

These are the brand new Neon Amplify puffy paints from Tsukineko.  They are a fluid paint in tubes with a fairly fine tip, so they are easy to control.  Place them anywhere you want a little color or dimension, then heat set them.  They become very opaque, and they really POP on dark paper.

Because they are very fluid, you can also use them with your stencils to create an entirely different look.  So much fun!

Join me Tuesday (and wear GREEN - it's St. Patrick's Day) between 12 & 2, and give it a try for yourself!

Dare to Be Artsy!

This Thursday's FREE make-and-take card features one of the new Dare 2B Artsy sets that just arrived at the shop! 

Have you ever wondered why we carry both large and small inkpads?  Well, in this card, we will make use of the small Dew Drop pads to color in different parts of the stamp.  Further color and shading is added with Prismacolor pencils.  Come get a much needed breath of spring when you join us to make this card!

(If you're in the shop between now and Thursday, check the card out.  Each week's make-and-take is posted behind the register a week in advance).

It's Ornamental!

This card is stunning and quick!  Add shimmer with the Delicata Gold ink and richness with the Memento teal.  It's quick because you'll stamp multiple times without reinking to create depth.  Pop-up a couple of images (but not too much so that there won't be extra postage), and voila - a beautiful 3-D card.  Stop in Thursday between 10 & 8 to make one for yourself. 

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! 

The Gold Standard

I'm always looking for Christmas card ideas that can be mass-produced.  This elegant design is exactly what I'm looking for!  I love the detail of the stamp, but to sit and color it - shading - wow!  Instead, we simply stamped it with the Delicata Gold Ink Pad.  This inkpad is unique, in that it is extremely lustrous, and dries with a raised finish - giving the appearance of an embossed image without adding that extra step!  Plus, we used a sponge and applied color from the inkpad to the center of the flower to spotlight a little color.  Super quick and easy, but very elegant.  Stop in Thursday anytime between 10 & 8 and make one for yourself.

No Glitter About It!

Elizabeth Crafts is known for their incredible, super-fine glitter.  We love it because it's shiny and easy to "contain"!

But did you know Elizabeth Crafts makes a lot of other fabulous products as well?  They have branched out into dies and embossing folders - and we love the elegance of them all!

This Thursday's FREE make-and-take project features a word die, a multi-layer ladybug die, and this sophisticated embossing folder.  After embossing the black card stock, we gently added color to the raised surface with Brilliance Moonlight White ink to make the pattern really pop!

Stop in between 10 & 8 on Thursday and see how much fun these products are.  The project is FREE and there's no need to pre-register.

Brilliance on Vellum - dare I say it's Brilliant???

 In my Beginning Stamping class, I talk about the difference between pigment inks and dye inks.  A "general statement" is that pigment inks won't dry on coated cardstock, like vellum.  But, of course, there are exceptions to every "rule", and Brilliance ink is one of this brilliant exceptions :-)  It is absolutely the perfect ink for stamping on that stunning translucent surface.  I also love to use it to create beautiful backgrounds. 

Join me Tuesday between 12 & 2 to find out more about this quick drying, metallic ink pad. 

IrRESISTible Sprays

This new spray by Tsukineko comes in 23 colors that match the Memento family + white, Gold, Silver, Copper and Bronze!  It is a texture spray (similar to Goosebumps that is available in clear).  This means it has dimension when it dries (see the dots on the Happy Birthday card??? Amazing!)

You can use the spray to create a resist, you can paint with it, stamp with it and spray it on stencils. It's an acrylic, so it dries to a gloss finish - different from anything else I've seen.  Stop by Tuesday between 12 & 2 and let me show you how much fun it is!  This event is FREE and you don't need a reservation.

Sparkle and Shine

 This Tuesday, during the FREE Learn at Lunch demo, Angela returns with 2 brand new products.  First, we'll play with Vertigo Film.  This refractive "lens" can be cut with scissors, trimmers, punches and dies and adds an interesting element to all of your projects.  We'll emboss it with a folder to add even more interest.  Additionally, we'll be playing with the new Delicata ink from Tsukineko.  Last year, they introduced a metallic gold that was simply stunning and so easy to use (it dries so much faster than standard metallic pads).  This year, they've added a Shimmery Silver to the line that is stunning both on light and dark colored card stock.  You don't need to register, so just stop in any time between 12 & 2 and find out more!  See you then!