Happy Easter

What's New Wednesday

Our biggest news is, our Studio.  It is almost done!  Yippee!!  We hope to have it done next week, so we are now scheduling classes.  We've added two classes to the schedule for late April and both are about 1/2 sold already.  Our classes, and the details for all the classes, will be posted on our website.  So, head over to our website and bookmark it.  You'll want to make sure it's easy to find.

Our first class is a card class, and includes the Pretty Poppies Stamp set (it's yous to keep).  You can find the details for that class HERE.  The second class is a mini chipboard album, and includes the Basic Grey collection kit.  You'll have lots of leftovers to take home after this class.  You can find the details for that class HERE.

This week we had lots of new party supplies arrive.  Graduation products arrived, reminding me that graduation is just around the corner.  Yikes!  Seems like it was just the first of the year yesterday.  All our graduation supplies are available in Purple, for Sequim, and Green for Port Angeles.  Take a look at some of the fun stuff that arrived this week.

Cupcake toppers!  Aren't these fun?  Thanks to That Takes the Cake for providing this yummy cupcake for my photo!

Treat cups for goodies!

Festive straws in school colors!

Plates and napkins in school colors.

We also have new Cherry products.  Shown here is the recipe box and nesting measuring cups.  We also have salt and pepper shakers and paper tableware.  Be sure to stop in for a look at all the adorable cherry products.

Not new, but a favorite, and perfect for your Spring table are our baking cups.   These are perfect for those special spring baked goods.  Or, fill them with Easter grass or paper shred for a cute mini Easter basket.

Be sure to stop in for a look at all the fun, new party supplies that arrived this week.  See you soon!

Project Life

Liesl has been working on a Project Life album since January.  She couldn't wait for the new Project Life kits to arrive in May.  So, she purchased some Project Life format page protectors and has been busy documenting her daily life.

Liesl participates in a daily photo challenge on Instagram.  She thought it would be a great idea to incorporate her Instagram photos into her Project Life Album.  I'll be posting her new pages here, on our blog, every Tuesday.

Thanks so much Liesl for sharing this journey with us!

This is the first page in her Project Life Album for 2013.

Here is a close up of her Title and her Instagram photo challenge for January.  She used the arrow chipboard pieces and month tabs from Studio Calico for embellishments.  The fun, colored, enamel dots are from My Mind's Eye.

Here's another close-up from this page.  Liesl used DIY Thickers from American Crafts for the "I am" and colored them with Distress Markers from Tim Holtz.  I love these Thickers.  You can paint, spray, or ink them to match anything on your page.  The date stamp in from American Crafts, Amy Tangerine's collection.   She finished with more enamel dots, washi tape, and chipboard arrows.

Studio Update

Our Studio is approaching the "near complete" stage.  We've patched the walls, finished the painting, the electrical has been installed, and there is now hot water in the restrooms  We are left with cleaning and organizing.  That sounds easy enough, right?  Wrong....if you saw the floors, you'd wish like me, to paint again.  Here's a peek at what we are up against.

Once the floors and cleaning are done, we are ready to bring up the furniture and start our classes!!  That's a perfect introduction to my next update.  Are you ready?  We have our first two classes scheduled.

The first class will be held on April 20th from 11am until 1pm.  It will be $25 and includes the Perfect Poppies stamp set ($18 value). It's  yours to take home after the class!  Here's a link to all the details: Pretty Poppies Class

One of five projects you will complete in the class.

Our second class will be held on April 28th.  You will spend the afternoon (11:30am until 5:00pm) completing a mini chipboard album.  This class is $30.  Here's a link to all the details:  Create an Album in an Afternoon

Eight page chipboard album.

Vintage Shadow Box

Mary (mom) made this wonderful shadow box with some of the new, Tim Holtz, idea-ology products.  She saw something similar at the CHA Show in January and couldn't wait for the new goodies to get here so she could create her own version of that wonderful canvas we saw.

These two people are my father's grandparents, or my great grandparents.  They immigrated here from Sicily at the turn of the century.  What an adventure. What courage it must have taken for them to leave their family, friends, and home knowing they would never return.

What's New Wednesday

First up....new stamps and dies from My Favorite Things.  The Pretty Poppies stamp set above has a coordinating die for cutting the poppies and leaves.  Watch our calendar for an April card class with this stamps set.  The second image is an accessory stamp set that coordinates with the Lollipop die that many of you have purchased this month.   MADE IN THE USA

 

Image number two....new idea-ology from Tim Holtz.  Above is a small sampling of new products we received recently from the Tim Holtz idea-ology collection.  Did you  see the Hitch Fasteners?  He brought them back after discontinuing them about a year ago.  Thanks Tim!!

Now for image number three.....more cheery cherry mugs!!  Say that fast three times.  These are adorable and sold out quickly last time they were in stock.

Finally....paper cups!  Everyone has been asking us for paper cups.  We have them in assorted colors, including Sequim's purple and gold.  They'll coordinate perfectly with the NEW graduation products arriving soon.  Also, back in stock, polka dot balloons in a variety of colors.

Fun links/posts you might have missed this week:

1.  Paper Mache Egg made by Liesl.
2.  Mini Cards made with one of the NEW sets from Taylored Expressions
3.  Lollipop Treat made with the Lollipop die.  The new Lollipop Birthday stamp set from MFT (above) coordinates with this die.
4.  Now you can visit our Pinterest Boards from our Facebook page.  Visit the Pinterest Tab under our header image.

Paper Mache Egg for Easter

Look what Liesl brought into the store last week.  She made this beautiful egg from one of the Martha Stewart Paper Mache Egg Boxes.  There's still time left for you to make one before Easter.  Stop in for an up close look and all the supplies.

Thanks Liesl, for sharing your beautiful project with us.

More Easter Doodles

Here are the cards I promised.  I used the Easter Doodles set from Taylored Expressions to create these mini everyday cards.  I colored them with my Copic markers and added Liquid Pearls and Stickles from Ranger Ink.  The scallop circle and squares were cut with Spellbinders Nestablilities die sets.

We still have a few of these stamp sets left.

 

Taylored Expressions - Egg-stra Special Card

Just a quick post today with a card I made earlier in the week.  I used the Easter Doodles set from Taylored Expressions.  It's a large set with lots of stamps (not just Easter).  There's a butterfly, bee, ladybug, flower, some frames, and everyday sentiments along with some great Easter designs.

I also used one of the newer Nestabilities Set from Spellbinders.  I love how it coordinates with the Labels One set.  A little "frill" is a perfect addition to a Spring card.

I hope this inspires you to create something fun!

 

Here's a peek at another card I'm working on using the same set.  Once it's dry, I'll photograph it, and post here (hopefully tomorrow).

What's New Wednesday

This is our BIGGEST news this week!  We're having a party.  So, get out your calendar and mark the date.  You won't want to miss this one.  We are still working out much of the details and will keep you informed as they develop.  Here's what we know so far: (1) Lifestyle Crafts / Quickutz will be here from 9am until 11am with Make and Takes, door prizes, and some fun new dies.  (2)  We will have our Studio finished and open for viewing.  (3)  Ryan and Emily (our family business is growing) will be here to meet and greet all of you.  They will be joining us in early April to help us run the family business.  Ryan is my nephew and Emily is his longtime girlfriend.  You are going to love them!  (4) Cupcakes...what's a party without cupcakes?  (5) Great Deals on some of your favorite products, of course.  (6)  Much, much, more.

So let's get to the new stuff.... Below are Dyan Reaveley's stamps.  They arrived this week.  Yippee!!!  (MADE IN THE USA)

Look what we found in the same box!  Tim Holtz stamps!  (MADE IN THE USA)

Photogram stickers for Sequim High School, Port Angeles, and travel.  (MADE IN THE USA)

Be sure to check out these fun links:

1.  Spring Nests- Great for a Garden Party or Spring Table 

2.  Lollipop Treats-  Dies and stamps from MFT Stamps

3.  Quick and Easy Cards-  Products from Doodlebug Designs

4.  Paper Mache Garden Pot-  Another great Spring idea

Spring Nests

This was inspired by something I saw on Pinterest a few weeks ago.  I thought the Bird die from Lifestyle Crafts / Quickutz would be perfect for this and I already had some of the peat  pots left over from last year's garden.  "Happy Spring" was stamped with wood mount letter stamps from Hero Arts.

Spring Treats From My Favorite Things

Looking for more Spring ideas?  The Lollipop Treat die from My Favorite Things is a great "Go To" die for any occasion or season.  I used the Embellished Eggs stamps and coordinating dies, as well as the bow die to embellish it.

The Trapezoid Treat Basket die is also great for Spring.  Once again, I embellished it with the same dies and stamps.  Apologies for the poor photograph below.  I had to shoot this at night with NO natural light.

Spring Accordion Banner

Remember this die and the banner we made for Fall?

Not sure if this qualifies as a banner, but that's what I'm calling it.  I love using the Accordion Flip Die from Sizzix to celebrate the seasons.  I intended to make something up for Valentine's Day, but that day just came and went before I had a chance.  I can't believe it's March!

(See below for a list of supplies)

 

Supplies Used:
Sizzix Album, Accordion Flip 3-D
My Favorite Things Die-namics and Stamps - Easter Elements
My Favorite Things Die-namics -Mini Doily Circles
Spring colored cardstock
Ink from Tsukineko- Orchid Brilliance, Pretty Petunia, Aquatic Splash, and Sea Breeze
American Crafts Thickers for the letters

Doodlebug Designs- New Products!

I know I say this all the time, but really, I'm loving these new products (and some of the old) from Doodlebug Designs!  They are great for QUICK and EASY cards.  I'm all about quick and easy right now.  My life is so busy at the moment, it's hard to find time to be creative.  I got my "creative fix" this week, with these cute projects and it only took 20 minutes of my time and very few supplies.

I used the pre-made cards and envelopes from Doodlebugs Designs.  We have an entire fixture of different styles and colors, and they all come with matching envelopes.  The phrases, embellishments, and paper are from their new collections (again lots to choose from).  The only additional items used were scissors, a white pen, foam dimensional dots, and one of the Mini Doily Circle Die-namics die from My Favortie Things.  Oh, adhesive of course and a small scrap of white cardstock.

 OOPS!  I fibbed.  I used Buttercup Liquid Pearls also.

What's New Wednesday

We've got several new SMASH books and fun accessories.  Above are just a few of the items.  They've introduces new clips, journal books, pockets and new books.  Come on in for a look.

Our Impression Obsession order finally arrived.  We received quite a few new Wood Mounted Stamps and several new unmounted backgrounds.  I love the shoes!!  MADE IN THE USA.

 Jolee's Boutique has introduced lots of new MINI embellishments.  These are perfect for cards, tags, and Project Life.

Pebbles has hit a home run with their new banner kits.  The flags/ pennants are already punched with holes and perforated.  All you'll need to do is tear out the number of pennants you need, and string them on the PROVIDED twine!  No scissors, dies, or punches needed.  They come in an assortment of colors.  Also available are printed glassine treat bags.  These are a great addition to our Party Department.



BACK IN STOCK!!! 
This popular stamp arrived yesterday.  If you've been waiting for her and aren't on the list, give us a call so we can set one aside for you.

SNEAK PEEK!
Here's a sneak peek at some fun, quick and easy cards we'll be posting on our blog this week.  We used the NEW (and some old) collections from Doodlebug Designs to create these.

ARRIVING SOON!
Finally, you've all been asking...."Do you carry Memory Box Dies?"  We're placing an order this week, so, the answer is, "We soon will."  Watch for more information and previews of these beautiful and detailed dies.