Inspiration Friday

Stamps don't have to be used for cards only!  Use them to create art.  This particular image is perfect for a child's room.  Use an image of fruit, food, or a beverage for the kitchen and a seascape for the bath.  I purchased several of these frames from Ikea last year.  I believe they were $1.99 each and were available in black or white.  Of course, a can of spray paint makes them any color you want. They have a great selection of quality frames that are reasonably priced.

The stamp used in the image above is "Far Out" from MFT Stamps.  It was colored with Copic markers.

Treat Box from Lifestyle Crafts

I've made several of these treat boxes, but this one has to be may favorite.  I LOVE the bright paper and the bow!

Supplies used:
Treat Box die from Lifestyle Crafts / Quickutz
Bow die from MFT Die-namics dies
Circle and Scallop Circle die from Spellbinders
Butterfly from Martha Stewart Crafts embellishments

We used the same treat box die from Lifestyle Crafts to create this Creative Cafe project last Fall.

What's New Wednesday

We've got boxes arriving everyday!!!  All the new products we ordered in January are starting to arrive.  It's coming in faster than we can check it in, price it, and put it out.  So, watch our FACEBOOK page for the most up to date information on new products.  Yesterday, SIX boxes arrived from American Crafts.  That means, Studio Calico, Pebbles, Crate Paper, and Dear Lizzy will be "hitting" the shelves soon!!!

Above: Graphic 45's new collections are here!!  Don't miss them, they WILL sell out fast!

Above:  Some new stamps from Stamping Bella.

Above:  Coordinating stamps and dies from My Favorite Things.  Stop in the store for some cute ideas.  We've made up some great spring samples with these!!  Here's a quick video showing you the stamps and dies.

Above:  Some fun party accessories arrived this week.  You've got to see this entire collection.  It's ADORABLE!!

Fin-tastic Birthday

Isn't she adorable?  She's one of the newer stamps we have from Taylored Expressions.  Included in the set are two additional sentiments (friendship and hello).  So, this stamp can be used for multiple occasions.

I stamped the image with black dye ink and colored it with the following Copic Markers:  BG13, 15, & 49, R02, 05, & 22, E00, 11, & 21, W2, 3, & C3.  I couldn't find a background paper that I liked.  I wanted something that reminded me of the sea or water.  So, I used my Tim Holtz Distress Inks to create my own background.  I smeared a bit of Shabby Shutters and Broken China on my craft sheet, sprayed it with lots of water, and then "smooshed" my mixed media paper on top of the ink, picking up the watery colors.  I dried it with my heat tool and then cut it to size.  I used Stardust Stickles to add some "bling" to her tail and the little pearls on the scallops are from Peacock Liquid Pearls.

Some Mixed Media Inspiration

I've been playing with some of the NEW Tim Holtz paints and the NEW Dylusions sprays and stencils from Dyan Reaveley. 

Here are the basic steps:
I chose to use some printed tissue from Tim Holtz for my base and used Claudine Hellmuth's Mulit Gel Medium to adhere them to the canvas, crinkling the tissue to create folds for texture.  Once it was dry, I used some  modeling paste and the doily stencil to create even more texture.  I then added  Mowed Lawn, Picket Fence, and Black Soot Distress paints to the mix and sprayed them with water until I achieved the look I wanted.  I added some Bombay India Ink  in Aqua and Green Grass, spraying them with water also  ( I got these from Akamai Art and Glass Supply).  I then added some Green Grass Dylusions Spray.  I dried everything again with my heat embossing tool.  I stenciled some letters using one of Dyan's new stencils and the Black Soot Distress Paint from Tim Holtz and added some stamped texture using a background stamp and black archival ink from Ranger.  The butterfly is from the Tim Holtz tissue paper, I simply cut it out and layered it on with more multi- gel medium from Claudine Hellmuth.  Once it was dry, I used the Pitt Artist Big Brush Pens to give it some color.  The words are written on masking tape with the black gel pens we carry and then layered on the canvas with the mulit-gel medium.

Create something today!!

Inspiration Friday- Spring Basket

Aren't these adorable?  Liesl's been busy making these for our Spring windows.  This is the new Basket die from Lifestyle Crafts / Quickutz.  You can cut the basket solid, or use the inserts that come with the die to create the open basket with the holes.  It also comes with a box top in case you don't want to use the handle.  The little chick is a new punch die from Lifestyle Crafts.  The punch dies are great for those times when you need to cut multiples of the same shape.  This particular die will cut 5 bunnies and 5 chicks in one pass on your Big Shot machine.  The bow was created using the Die-namics Bow die from MFT Stamps.

Here's a close up of the Die-namics Bow die from MFT Stamps.

Lifestyle Crafts Berry Basket

This is one of my "go to" dies from Lifestyle Crafts.  I love using it for the different seasons.  I filled it with home-made jam for the Holidays.  It's great for summer parties and picnics, and perfect for Spring.  Fill it with colored eggs, seed packets, or your favorite mini potted flower or garden plant.  It's the perfect Spring gift for a friend.

The basket was cut with Lifestyle Crafts Berry Basket die.  The bow and scallop edge are Die-namics dies from MFT Stamps.

Here's a look back at a couple of additional projects we've created with the same die.

What's New Wednesday

Lifestyle Crafts / Quickutz has done it again.  I love this basket die almost as much as I love the Berry Basket.  It comes with the hatched insert so you can cut your basket with, or without the holes.  It also comes with a lid, so you can make it a box, instead of a basket.  We also have their chick and bunny punch die.  With the punch dies, you are able to cut multiple pieces with one pass on your Big Shot machine.

We just received a big shipment of dies and stamps from MFT Stamps.  Here's  a sample I made last night using their basket die and some of their spring stamps and coordinating dies.  With Valentine's Day almost behind us, it's time to start thinking about Spring.  (Made in the USA)


Spring products are starting to arrive.  Watch and LIKE our Facebook page to keep up-to-date on the newest arrivals.  We'll post them there first.

Check out these fun links for additional inspiration:

Have you tried the New Gelatos from Faber Castell?  They are located in our NEW MIXED MEDIA section.  Visit this link for a quick demonstration.

Here's a cute card using some of the newer stamp and die sets from Taylored Expressions.

Love cupcakes?  Visit this blog post for a cute (quick and easy) cupcake card using one the stamps from Unity Stamps.  I love the sentiment inside.  It reads, "I love you more than cupcakes."

Quick and Easy Card

Here's a quick and easy card for this Tuesday's inspiration.  The inside reads, "I love you more than cupcakes."

The stamp I used for this card is from Unity Stamps.  I stamped it with black dye ink and colored it with the following Copic Markers:  R37, & 35, YG23, & 03, RV13, & 14.  The background cupcakes were stamped with Magenta Hue archival ink from Ranger Ink and the bling is from Stardust Stickles (also from Ranger Ink).

Hoot, Hoot, Hooray

It's your birthday.  Owls are still popular, and this one is adorable.  This stamp and die set from Taylored Expressions comes with multiple sayings, another owl and the dies for cutting them out!!

Inspiration Friday

It's time for Inspiration Friday.  We're hoping we'll inspire you to do something creative this weekend.

 I love the Pocket Gift Card Die-namics and coordinating stamps from MFT Stamps.  They would have been great to have for the Holidays, but really, they are great for anytime of year.  They are perfect for any occasion and the sentiments fit perfectly on the pocket.  Here are a couple simple ideas to get you started. 

Supplies:

Vertical Pocket Die-namics die from MFT Stamps
Vertical Pocket stamp set from MFT Stamps
Herringbone background stamp from Impression Obsession
Paper from Echo Park
Kraft cardstock
Vintage Photo Ink for edges
Red and brown ink

Supplies:

Vertical Pocket Die-namics die from MFT Stamps
Vertical Pocket stamp set from MFT Stamps
Vine and Flower embossing folder from Sizzix
Paper from Studio Calico
Cardstock
Words and Tags Stamp and Die Set from Hero Arts
Brown and grey ink
Twine or ribbon

I Heart You!

Are you looking for a quick and easy, last minute, Valentine?  Fill these mini take-out boxes with treats, love notes, or even your favorite tea, and embellish them with stickers, stamps or die cuts.  We've got them in blue and pink.

What's New Wednesday

Tim Holtz Distress Paints are here and we are sooooo excited.  These paints are amazing!!  We've got a few open bottles at the store, so stop in for a quick demo and a try or visit this link for a quick video demonstration.  (Made in the USA)

I just put out lots of fun and brightly colored bottle caps for making magnets, necklaces, and embellishments. This is a great kids party activity! We're busy making up some fun samples to inspire you!! 

We love these sprays and know you will too.  Visit this link for a quick online video demonstration from Dyan at the CHA show, or stop by the store for a quick demonstration.  (Made in the USA)

Product Info and Updates:

Copic Marker Price Increase
Just in case you missed the update last week, Copic Markers have increased in price.  We will wait to raise our prices until February 10th.  On that date, the markers will go up to an everyday price of $4.99 per marker instead of the new MSRP of $5.49.  We will at that time, discontinue our volume pricing.

Distress Markers Tips and Tricks
I ran across two great videos this week using Tim Holtz Distress Markers.  This first video is from Tim Holtz.  He talks about the different reactions you will get when using the markers on various surfaces and some of the marker's neat properties. Watch his video here.  The second video is a water color demonstration.  You can watch that here.

Valentine Flip it Card
Did you see our Blog Post on the Valentine Flip it Card?  Here's the link, just in case you missed it.

Inspiration Friday
Our Creative Cafe projects are "on hold" until we finish our upstairs Studio / Workshop.  Until then, we'll be replacing it with Inspiration Friday.  Each Friday, we'll post a project on our blog.  Hopefully it will inspire you to create something wonderful over the weekend. Visit this link for last week's Inspiration Friday card.

Isabelle and Her Ice Cream

I've been working on this card for quite some time.  She's been sitting on my desk, in a pile of partially completed projects.  How does that happen?  I was determined to finish her once I returned from CHA.  So, while I was home sick, I managed to get her finished.

I colored her with my Copic markers and decided to use the Lattice Pattern die from Spellbinders for the background.  We've had several of these intricate and detailed pattern dies at the store for a few months.  I keep thinking about using one of them, but never seem to remember when I'm making a card.  I remembered this time! 

Doesn't this card make you wish for warm weather?

Stamp is from Stamping Bella-  Isabelle Loves her Ice Cream

Circle Flip Card for Valentine's Day

These flip dies from Sizzix are so much fun.  I have the circle, but really they are all fantastic.  They make quick, easy, interactive cards.  Since I've had Valentine's Day on my mind, I created this card with the circle flip die.  I used Spellbinder's Nesting Circles and Hearts for cutting the hearts and the ring.  The embossing folder is from Lifestyle Crafts and, of course, the Circle Flip die is from Sizzix.  I love how the words look embossed on the card.

Here's a close up look at the center.

Lollipop Treat Die from MFT Stamps

Love this!!!  This is a Lollipop Treat Die-namics die from MFT Stamps.  They've had this for quite some time, and make stamps for the different seasons to embellish it.  I loved it at Halloween, and again, at Christmas.  When I saw it AGAIN for Valentine's Day, I decided to get it.   It's great for birthdays, showers, any occasion or season.

Inspiration Friday

In case you missed our post yesterday, we will be suspending our Creative Cafe and Make it Monday projects until after our Studio is complete.  Until then, we'll post a project idea for the weekend on Friday.  While we won't actually have the project and printed instructions at the store, we'll have supplies available so you can make something similar.  So, kick off your weekend with a little creative fun. Get out your supplies and make some cards.

We've used this flower die on several projects, so many of you may already have this at home.  If not, you can use a layered flower die from your collection or stop by and purchase this one at the store.  The scroll die is from Sizzix.  I've had it sitting in my "use this on something" pile for quite some time.  So, I was glad to finally use it on this project.  The stamp is from Technique Tuesday and is an Ali Edwards design.  I LOVE her word stamps!

(See the end of this post for a list of specific supplies)

Here's a close up image of the vellum flower.

Supplies:

Botanical Beauty Die-namics die from MFT Stamps
Renaissance Frame die from Sizzix
Simply You stamps set from Technique Tuesday (Ali Edwards)
Patterned Paper from Echo Park
Glazed Brad
Cardstock
Vellum for the flower
Black Archival Ink