Weekend Inspiration

Are you looking for some creative inspiration for the weekend?  We've been busy pinning fun projects using sequins (our challenge this past month) over on our Pinterest boards.  So, be sure to check out our Products- Sequins Board and our Trends- Shaker Cards Board.  Both feature some wonderful projects that inspired us. We hope they inspire you too.

If you'd like to get in on our monthly challenges, be sure to head over to our Creative Community.  It's a fun group of crafty ladies, sharing our creative projects.  Oh, and yes, we do give away monthly prizes.  So head over there now and request to be added to the group.

Here are a few projects we've created this month using sequins.

Prim Poppy Die from Memory Box

Today we have a card featuring the Prim Poppy die from Memory Box.

The Prim Poppies were cut from Mixed Media paper after it was colored using water and Tim Holtz Distress Inks. 

Cotton Treat Bags

We love decorating these small cotton bags for gift giving.  With Valentine's Day just around the corner, we thought we'd stamp one with a Valentine sentiment and fill it with candies.  Quick and easy!

The sentiment and little hearts are both from Avery Elle's, Lot's of Love stamp set.

MFT Stamps - You We're Meant to Sparkle

Today we're revisiting a popular stamp set from last year, released by MFT Stamps.  We thought it would be perfect for Valentine's Day tags, cards, or treats.  Or, simply use it for a fun, everyday card or gift for a special friend.

We tied a "Sparkly" gel pen to the finished tag.  You could include some "sparkly" nail polish or lip gloss instead of the gel pen.  Really, anything that sparkles would be perfect.  For some added sparkle, we included some sequins from Pretty Pink Posh.

 

Here's a look at the entire set and all the wonderful sentiments.

 

Spring Workshop

We still have a few spaces left in our Spring Workshop.  If you missed our last email or post, you can find those details HERE.

Otherwise, here are a few more peeks at some of the wonderful projects we'll be making.

Hope to see you there!!

CHA Product Previews

Happy Wednesday everyone.  Wow!  We've had a busy and hectic couple of weeks.  Thanks for being patient with us last week while the store was operating on shorter hours.  A huge, "Thank you," to Liesl for opening the store each day until Mary could get back and to those of you who volunteered to help.  We really appreciate it.

Things are just about back to normal.  We almost have all the Christmas decorations packed away.  Valentine and Spring products have been arriving daily and the store is beginning to make that transition from Winter and Christmas to the soft colors of Spring.

We're busy planning our Spring Workshop (you can find those details HERE) and a few other classes.  We are also working on our 10 YEAR Anniversary Event.  I can't believe it's been 10 YEARS!!!!  We officially opened in February, 10 years ago.  We're planning a big celebration in April.  We'll let you know as soon as we have all the details.

In the meantime, we thought we'd share some links and videos showcasing the fun products we purchased at the CHA Show.  Many of these products  are shipping now, while others are shipping in February and March.  Shipping delays may occur as several companies have experienced 6 - 8 week delays due to the labor dispute with the Longshore workers in Long Beach.









We tried to narrow the list down to our top 10, but we couldn't do it.  So, here's our top 13!



Ranger Products
Texture Pastes (shipping early February)

Tim Holtz Products
Tim Holtz Distress Colors (shipping now)

Tim Holtz Mixed Media Dies

Tim Holtz Core' dinations Paper

Tim Holtz Demo

Tim Holtz Idea-ology Collection (Ships February and March)

WeR Memory Keepers

Banner Punch Board

Photo Sleeve Fuse Tool (Shipping April)

360 Craft Bag

Sizzix Products

Precision Base Plate


Miscellaneous New Products

Cosmo Cricket's Just Add Watercolor (shipping in March)

My Mind's Eye Paper Collection (shipping now)

 Simple Stories - I AM Collection

We can't wait for all the new products to arrive.  We have new products shipping from Lawn Fawn, Mama Elephant, Technique Tuesday, Elizabeth Crafts Designs and more.  Check back often, or follow us on Facebook or Instagram.  We'll be posting new arrivals on both sites as soon as they arrive.

If you happened to make it through the list of video links above, we've got links to more inspiration from our blog, listed  below.  Be sure to check out the links and let us know what you think.

1.  Here's the LINK to a beautiful card using the Vivianne Butterfly die from Memory Box.

2.  Loving THIS card using the Mama Elephant stamp set - You're Purrfect.  You can find that card HERE.

3.  Looking for a beautiful Valentine card idea?  Take a look at THIS card using the Bee Mine stamp from Avery Elle.

Berry Good Stamp Set from Avery Elle

Today we have another card featuring the Berry Good stamp set from Avery Elle.

Emily stamped the lemons using Antique Linen Distress Ink from Tim Holtz.  She then used a brush and several of the Distress Inks to watercolor the image. The sentiment was stamped with VersaMark ink and embossed with white embossing powder. Of course, she had to add some sequins from Pretty Pink Posh as a finishing touch.

Here's a closer look at the image.  She also used the Dotted Border Die from Avery Elle.  It has become one of our recent favorite dies the past few weeks.

Vivianne Butterfly from Memory Box

Today we're featuring a card we created with the Vivianne Butterfly from Memory Box.

We used Tim Holtz Distress Ink to watercolor the background of some mixed media paper.  Stamped a sentiment and added some of the die cut butterflies.  Super easy!!

Mama Elephant's - The Purrfect Pair

We're featuring another card using Mama Elephant's, Purrfect Pair, stamp set.  The card last week was colored using watercolor techniques.  This week, we decided to color the image with Copic Markers. 

After we colored the image, we masked it off by covering it with rubber cement.  Once it was dry, we used Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Peacock Feathers and the Ink Blending Tool to apply some ink behind the cute little kitties.  The rubber cement protects the colored image from the Distress Ink while you apply it.  After the ink was applied, we used a clean towel to rub off the rubber cement from our image.

The zig zag border was die cut from Avery Elle's Dotted Border die set. 

We applied Glossy Accents over the milk bottle, giving it that shiny, glass-like finish.

Here's a look at all the images included in the Purrfect Pair stamp set.

Here's a look at the Dotted Border die set from Avery Elle.

Avery Elle- Bee Mine

We have more Valentine inspiration today.  This time we used the new stamp set from Avery Elle, Bee Mine.

We stamped this with VersaMark ink, onto watercolor paper, and heat embossed it with gold embossing powder from Ranger Ink.

After we heat embossed it, we used Tim Holtz Distress Inks to watercolor the image.  Super easy, and super quick.

Avery Elle- Lots of Love Stamp Set

Are you looking for some Valentine inspiration?  This card was stamped using the Lots of Love stamp set from Avery Elle.

That cute border, is from Avery Elle's Dotted Border set.  You'll see that set used on several cards this month.  I think it's our new favorite "go to" die.

Here's another card using that set.

Here's a picture of the images included in the Lots of Love set.

Here's what you get with that cute Dotted Border die set.

What's New Wednesday

Happy Wednesday everyone!  We hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday season and you are enjoying the new year.  We've been busy counting inventory, packing up Christmas, and putting out our Valentine and Spring products.  We still have some great bargains on our SALE table, and all Christmas is still 50% off.  Combine that, with your Doodle Bucks and you've got a great bargain.

Don't forget, your Doodle Bucks must be redeemed by January 31st.

We're busy getting ready for our trip to Anaheim and the CHA Show.  We can't wait to see all the new, fun, and exciting products!  We've already begun to see lots of "sneak peeks" on social media sites and have been sharing them on our Facebook page.  So, head over to our Facebook page for a look at some of our favorite new products.  No need to be a facebook user.  You can still visit our page HERE and view our posts.

In the meantime, we've been receiving lots of NEW products and posting some adorable projects on the blog.  Just in case you missed them, be sure to visit the links below.

Avery Elle Bunting Stamp Set from Avery Elle

View this card HERE.


Heart Full of Love Die from MFT Stamps

View this card HERE.


Berry Good Stamp Set from Avery Elle

View this card HERE.

Berry Good Stamp Set from Avery Elle (Number  Two)

View this card HERE.

Purrfect Pair Stamp Set from Avery Elle

View this card HERE.


Have you signed up for our Spring Workshop yet?  Don't miss the fun!  See below for all the details.

Avery Elle's Bunting Stamp Set

Today's card uses another new set we have in the store.  This one is from Avery Elle, and is their new Bunting set.  It's great for any type of celebration!

We stamped an assortment of dots using pink an purple inks.  We filled in at the top with the largest dot and graduated to the smaller dots as we worked our way down the front of the card.

We added some sequins from Pretty Pink Posh and some Wink of Stella in clear to some of the dots  (It's really hard to see in the photo, but looks great in person).

That beautiful scallop border is from Avery Elle's Dotted Borders die set.  A new favorite of ours!

Here's a look at all the wonderful images included with the stamp set.

Here's a look at that border die set.

Mama Elephant- Purrfect Pair

Today we're sharing a card we created with Mama Elephant's new Purrfect Pair stamp set.

This image was stamped on watercolor paper with Archival Ink and then colored using watercolor techniques and Tim Holtz Distress Inks.  These inks are our "go to" products for watercolor effects.

Here's a look at all the images included in the stamp set.