Category: Stamps

Tuesday with Wendy, April 2nd

4/5/2019

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The cards from class this week were ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!!!!!

Wendy was first inspired by this new stamp set from Altenew, Lavender Bud

To make the card:

Start by stamping your Lavender Bud FLOWER with 2 shades of purple ink onto a white card stock base. Wendy used Versafine Clair inks Monarch and Medieval Blue. Wendy stamped the Lavender Bud with Monarch, then stamped the "ghost" right next to it. Wendy then inked the SAME STAMP this time with Medieval Blue and stamped the "ghost" right next to it. I LOVE the look of this! It gives the impression that you are using 4 different colors of ink.. but it's just the 2 COLORS stamped twice.
Then, Wendy used the Versafine Clair Ink, Green Oasis to stamp the stems of her flowers. Again, she stamped the stem and stamped the "ghost" next to it.. lining the stems up evenly with the Lavender Buds.
Wendy used some floral paper along the bottom of her card base
The sentiment, "thanks" is part of the Lavender Bud Stamp Set. Wendy stamped the "thanks" on a piece of aqua-colored card stock with Versafine Onyx Black ink. Wendy layered the aqua card stock with a piece of dark blue card stock and mounted that on the front of the card above the floral-patterned paper

Isn't this card GORGEOUS?!?! A simple card with a big appearance!

One of my favorite parts about card class is what OTHER IDEAS the students had!!

Check out some of these other Flower Cards!!

The next card that Wendy designed was inspired by the BoBunny die-cuts, Balloon Party as well as this Memory Box die-cut, Happy Birthday Cursive

To make the card:

Start out by die-cutting the Happy Birthday die-cut out of navy card stock
Next, on a piece of mottled blue paper, layer a piece of gold mesh ribbon, navy card stock, and antique gold card stock. Use the Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive to adhere the Happy Birthday onto the antique gold card stock
Use a piece of antique gold card stock as your card base. On the front of the card, adhere a piece of balloon paper. Wendy chose a balloon-patterned paper that had blue and gold balloons on it.
Next, die-cut the Balloons. You will need to use your home-die-cut-machine. On the cutting plate, lay down your scraps of paper you want your balloons to be cut out of. Lay down the balloon dies onto the pieces of scrap paper cutting DOWN towards the scraps. Place a layering plate on top and run it through the die-cut machine. You will get a variety of balloons in all sorts of fun patterns because you can cut them all at once.
Use Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive to adhere twine onto the bottom of each balloon. Put a pop-dot behind each balloon to add dimension and adhere all the balloons at the TOP of the front of the card base. Pull all the twine-ends together and adhere them in place with some double-sided tape.
Now adhere your Happy Birthday sentiment (that is mounted on the blue/mesh/gold) and use pop-dots to adhere it to the front of the card COVERING the grouping of twine at the bottom.

This is a GREAT card that can be used for Masculine Cards or Graduation Cards

The last card that Wendy designed was inspired from this Fir Trees image from Stampscapes as well as this image from Impression Obsession, Howling Wolf

To make the card:

Start out with a white card stock base. Stamp your Howling Wolf image with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink on the middle of the front of the card at the bottom. Then, stamp your Fir Trees image with Versafine Clair Nocturne ink on the LEFT of the wolf and then ink the stamp again and stamp the Fir Trees image on the RIGHT of the wolf. Use Detail Clear embossing powder across these images and then use a heat-gun to heat-set it.
Then, cut out 3 sizes of circles using the Hero Arts Circle Infinity Dies
Place a large circle (for the moon) on the paper and use a brush from the LARGE Picket Fence Blending Brush set to apply a light coat of Distress Inks, Weathered Wood, Pumice Stone, and Black Soot
THEN REMOVE THE LARGE CIRCLE

Take the paper you cut the large circle out of and overlay it on top of the card base lining up the cut-out with the Moon you just masked off.
Now use the Large Picket Fence Blending Brush again to apply a soft coat of Distress Ink, Mustard Seed to the moon image. THEN (making sure to keep the mask in place) lay down a small circle at the bottom part of the moon and then apply a soft coat of Distress Ink, Spiced Marmalade. Then lay down a little bit bigger circle and apply a soft coat of Distress Ink, Spiced Marmalade AGAIN. Then lay down a little bit bigger circle and apply a soft coat of Distressed Ink, Candied Apple
Pull away the mask (the paper with a hole in it) and look in Aww at HOW STUNNING THIS DESIGN IS!!!!

When creating this card, you will want to place your large circle on top of the Wolf Head to make it look like it's howling at the moon (above pics)... but for the purposes of Demo-ing this technique, I am going to show a step-by-step photo tutorial (below pics)

TO CREATE THE OMBRE MOON:

This effect is WONDERFUL!!!!

The cards this week were SO MUCH FUN and I loved how everyone's was a little different!!

To sign up for the NEXT card making class, give us a call here at the store!!

360-647-9663

It will offered on April 16th (you need to sign up by the SATURDAY BEFORE CLASS to reserve your spot!)

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Fabric Fun!!

3/23/2019

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We sell a variety of different products here that you can use on FABRIC!!!

Check out some of these ideas!!

I love this EASY idea for using your Velvet Papers!! Or Crushed Velvet (Rayon-style velvet) fabric you may have at home!

Take a Red Rubber Stamp and place it on your counter top with the rubber side facing up.
Spritz a little bit of water on the stamp
Lay down a piece of velvet paper or crush velvet fabric
Turn your Iron on to the "cotton" setting
Press your iron onto the back side of the velvet (that is still sitting on your rubber stamp!) and let sit for 10 seconds
Remove the velvet from your stamp and BE AMAZED at how beautiful the impression is!!!!

Check out this other idea... using the Dye-na-flow dye inks for dying your fabrics!!

You can take a paint brush and brush on some of the dye on a piece of fabric on canvas...

After Wendy colored the background of her canvas with Dye-na-flow inks, she went back in with 3 different techniques to create the black designs:

Wendy created her own ink pad using Neopaque Black Acrylic Paint (for fabric) and this Cut and Dry foam pad. Then she used here custom stamps (the mandala images and square images) to stamp onto the canvas. Because the Neopaque Black Acrylic Paint is safe for fabrics, she can stamp ANY image onto fabric with this ink pad she created!!

Wendy used the Neopaque Black Acrylic Paint (for fabric) and filled a Fine Line Applicator and then created the thicker swirl designs. When the paint is in the Fine Line Applicator it makes it so you have WAY better control on creating free-form designs

Finally, Wendy used the Black Glaze Pen to add in the fine-line swirls. Weirdly, this gel-like glaze pen dries on some fabrics and can withstand washing and drying... we have just recently played around with this concept but it's a pretty fun idea!! (especially for those of us that like to do detail work with pens!)

Another cool idea is that you can create your own ink pad (just like above with the Acrylic Paint) but with BLEACH! The best way to do this is by using Soft Scrub WITH BLEACH already added. Then, just like before, you cut a piece of the Cut-and-Dry foam and "fill" the pad with Soft Scrub with Bleach using a Stipple Brush.

When Wendy did this, she was able to STAMP on black canvas and the bleach removed some of the color!!

I love this effect!!

You can also use the Lumiere Paints to paint on clothing. The Lumiere Acrylic Paints and the Neopaque Acrylic Paints are SAFE FOR FABRIC so you can design something on an item of clothing and safely wash your shirts/pants/sweatshirts/blankets without the paint cracking or flaking off.

Lumiere Acrylic Paints are metallic....

Neopaque Acrylic Paints are Opaque (not transparent) and have no metallic in them.

Just look how fun and VIBRANT these Lumiere Acrylic paints are!!

The stamped images are from the ink pad Wendy made with Acrylic Paint from earlier...

I LOVE how this shirt turned out!! Fun, original designs just using stamps and fabric-safe Acrylic Paint

There are SO MANY things you can do with fabric when it comes to art!!

Need some inspiration?? We are happy to help, 7 days a week!!

See you soon!
360-647-9663

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Tuesday with Wendy, March 19th

3/22/2019

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I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the cards from this week's card making class!!! THEY ARE ALL SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

Perfect cards for Spring Time!!

The first card that Wendy created was made using this BRAND NEW stamp set from Creative Expressions, Pink Ink Designs called Dragonfly Wings Series. Wendy also used paper from this new paper collection from BoBunny, Harmony

To make the card:

Start out with a half-sheet of light yellow card stock, score your paper in the middle and fold the card in half.
Next, open the card flat and stamp your Dragonfly Body image on the INSIDE OF THE CARD on the right side using Versafine Clair Ink, Medieval Blue. Use Crystal Embossing Powder and heat-set it. Then place a piece of decorative paper on the INSIDE OF THE CARD on the left side.
Now, with the card open, score your paper AGAIN this time coming from the right side of the card, score it it at 2 1/8" making sure NOT TO SCORE over the dragonfly body!
Use an X-acto Knife to cut out the Dragonfly Body on the LEFT SIDE OF THE SCORE LINE ONLY. Once you have trimmed the body of the dragonfly, you can fold the flap of the right side of the dragonfly body so it creates a tri-fold card.
Next, stamp the Dragonfly Wings on a piece of thick vellum using the Hero Arts Unicorn White Ink pad and use White Diamond Embossing Powder. Then heat-set your image. Also stamp little dragonflies on the decorative paper we placed on the left side of the card
Fussy-cut the 2 sets of Dragonfly Wings. We suggest you keep the top and bottom wings connected so you can easily adhere them in place with a little bit of Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive. Make sure to just adhere the wings at the Dragonfly Body base and leave the rest of the Wings free-floating
Then, use 2 of your Hero Arts Nesting Oval dies to die-cut a thin oval out of light pink card stock. Use Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive to adhere the oval on the decorative paper.. it's ok if you cover up your little dragonflies just slightly.
When you close the tri-fold card, your Dragonfly should look like it is resting in the middle of the thin pink oval.. kind of giving the impression of a dragonfly landing on a lake!!

This card is so delicate and STUNNING in design and beauty... we all LOVE this card so much!!

The next card that Wendy designed was inspired from the ALL NEW Lavinia Stamps, Seeing is Believing and the Zen Rose

To make the card:

Start with a piece of white card stock and use the Versafine ink, Onyx. Wendy used this ink to stamp the fairy image in the middle of her card stock THEN went back in with the Zen Rose stamp and stamped around the fairy image
Then, Wendy sprinkled on Embossing Powder. She put Crystal Embossing Powder on the fairy (then shook off the excess) and then covered the rest of the image with Detail Clear Embossing Powder. Then she heat-set the entire image.
Wendy used a coral-colored piece of card stock as her card base. She used the Hero-Arts nesting Rectangles to cut out an oval in a piece of pink card stock
Adhere the stamped fairy image/zen roses to the coral-colored card base and finish off the card by adhering the oval cut-out on top of the image.

I LOVE THIS CARD!!!!

It is *so magical* and brings me so much joy!!

The last card that Wendy designed was inspired from this die-cut from Creative Expressions, Happy Birthday Edger

To make the card:

Start with die-cutting the Happy Birthday Edger paper out of white felt-weave card stock
Use the Picket Fence Blending Brushes and 3 colors of Distress Ink: Seedless Preserves, Shabby Shutters, and Peeled Paint to create a beautiful ombre color on the Happy Birthday die-cut.
Now use the Aqua Shimmer Pen to color across the entire die-cut so the colors of ink now look *iridescent* and magical
Use a card base that is a darker shade of purple. Wendy used a small strip of paper from the Graphic 45 Bloom Collection above and below the sentiment.
Use pop-dots to add dimension to a few of the letters of the Happy Birthday die-cut... this adds interest and makes it MORE FUN!!

This card is WONDERFUL and is so fun and brilliant... and looks dramatic and exciting (even though it's an easy card to create!!)

If you would like to join us for the NEXT Tuesday with Wendy card making class, you can sign up by calling us here at the store!

It will be offered on Tuesday, April 2nd

360-647-9663

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HOLY MOLY New, New, New!!!!!

3/15/2019

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We have LOADS of new items at the store right now!!! I am SO EXCITED to share it all with you!!

First off, PAPER!!! We have gotten is SO MANY new papers in the last couple weeks and many of them are BRAND NEW!!!!

BoBunny
Altenew
Graphic 45

.... and MANY OTHERS!!

Take a look at all the newest papers!!

These ones JUST ARRIVED YESTERDAY!!

Just LOOK HOW CUTE these little hedgehogs are! We LOVE how some of them are even wearing glasses!!

New Baby-Theme papers as well... look at this Alphabet sheet!!

Several great designs for Spring, Birthday, and Just Because...

Of course, I can't ignore this STUNNING PAPER LINE, Harmony, out from BoBunny that showcases beautiful watercolor designs.... LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!

Last week was when we got in the ALL NEW paper pack from Altenew (as well as some of their Wooden Button embellishments...) This paper pack features 16 HIGH QUALITY double-sided sheets of card stock.. really fantastic designs...

And, probably my MOST FAVORITE has been... Graphic 45!!!!

We now have both NEW COLLECTIONS

Kaleidoscope Line
Bloom Line

The number of NEW PAPERS is a bit overwhelming... IN THE BEST WAY!!!

Llama papers, Mermaid papers....

Fiesta papers, Graduation papers...

There are SO MANY wonderful things to see and love... and it seems there is a paper for everyone!!

We are also carrying 3 ALL NEW COMPANIES!!

Whimsy
Creative Expressions
Lavinia Stamps

Whimsy Stamps are some of our FAVORITES for snarky sayings and cute animals... but their more intricate images are just STUNNING!!

And, we have been OVER THE MOON with the newest from Creative Expressions!!!

This company is from the U.K. and they create BEAUTIFUL designs!!

Embossing Folders
Wood-Veneer die-cut pieces (like the flying keys that you see below)
GORGEOUS stamps (just LOOK how intricate!!)
Fantastic die-cuts and sentiments!!

My ALL TIME FAVORITE COMPANY though.... is Lavinia Stamps!!!!

EEEEEEEEKKKKKK!!!!

There are AMAZING designs for those of you who love fairies, mushrooms, intricate images, and foliage.. gosh I am IN LOVE!!!

I have been SO IMPRESSED with the intricacy of these images... they are WONDERFUL!!!

Stop by to see us to indulge in ALL THE AMAZING goodies we have been getting in... I know you are just itching to use some of these new products in your art creations!!

Give us a call if you need any of these items shipped to you! We are happy to accommodate!!
360-647-9663

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Tuesday with Wendy, March 5th

3/9/2019

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Check out the 3 wonderful cards from card making class last week!!

You can really tell Wendy is in the mood for creativity!!

The cards this week were really fun!!

The first card was created with a bit of Wendy Pizzazz!!! She was inspired by this new Washi Tape from Dylusions, these 2 colors of Dylusions Spray inks (Vibrant Turquoise and Funky Fuchsia), and this new stamp set from Seth Apter, Grunge Grids

To make the card:

Start out with a half-sheet of a piece of white card stock. Stamp the Grunge Grids stamp with Versafine Clair Inks Warm Breeze, Nocturne, and Morning Mist over the outside of the card base (front of the card and the back side of the card)
Next, use a piece of pop-tone 100# card stock to apply a FEW SPRITZ' of ink of each color of the Spray Ink.
Now take a small piece of white card stock and apply 3 different widths of Washi Tape.. Wendy chose these funky ones!! **we used white card stock so you can clearly see the images on the Washi Tape since the Washi Tape is slightly transluscent**
Now cut a piece of black/white patterned paper to add interest. Wendy liked to cut hers into little squares and strips
Back the piece of paper with Spray Inks on it with a piece of black card stock and adhere it to the card base using double-sided tape
Also back the piece of paper with Washi Tape on it with a piece of black card stock and adhere that down using double-sided tape
Use Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive to paste down the black/white patterned paper strips

Look how fun these cards turned out!!

I think we can all agree... this is a very "Wendy Style" card... it is SO FUN!!

The next card that Wendy designed was a Shaker Card!! She was inspired by this Monsters Stamp from BoBunny

To make the card:

Stamp your Monster Stamp (with a circle for the tummy) on a piece of white card stock using Versafine Onyx Black ink.
Fold your card base in half. Use your Home Die-cut Machine and a circle die-cut to cut out the stomach of the monster image AND the front of your card base.
Next, cut a piece of chipboard ( 2" x 4") and cut out 2 holes that are slightly larger than the hole you just cut out of your card base. **You may need to use the die-cut machine here at the store to do this because most die-cut blades will not cut through chip board** . Once you have cut 2 holes in your piece of chipboard, cut the piece of chipboard in half. You should now have 2 small squares of chipboard with a hole in each one measuring about 1 1/2 inches.
On the front of the card, where you cut out your hole, adhere a piece of Acetate using double-sided tape.
Now place BOTH PIECES of chipboard down and adhere them to each other using Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive. The holes of the chipboard should line up nicely with the hole in the card base
Now FILL YOUR SHAKER CARD!! Wendy used Blue Ombre Sequins from Hero Arts. Once you have filled it (NOT FULL) place a piece of Acetate on the front and adhere it with double-sided tape. This will hold your shaker bits.
Then, adhere your Monster in place!! Remember to line up the holes so the shaker card makes sense!
Wendy chose a piece of fun "cartoon" looking paper and cut out an oval using her Home Die-cut Machine and laid the cut-out on the front of her card base to finish off the front of the card.
Next, stamp 2 little Monster images on the INSIDE of the card... and if you can.. arrange one so he is peeking through the stomach!!
Now close your card and look in awe and have fun with such an ADORABLE card!!!

Check out this fun idea.... One of the students used her oval cut-out to make a secret flap for the inside of her card!! How fun!!

The last card that Wendy designed was MY FAVORITE!!! It is SO CUTE!!

Wendy was inspired by the new Lawn Fawn Mushroom Border and the Gentle Bunny from Memory Box

To make the card:

Start out by using a light green card base. Take a piece of floral-patterned paper and cut out an oval using your Home Die-cut Machine.
Use the Lawn Fawn Mushroom Border to cut out some mushrooms and grass for the front of the card.. Wendy used a mottled, flesh colored card stock for the mushroom base and a bright red card stock for the mushroom tops.
Arrange your mushrooms and grass in the oval cut-out for the front of the card. Use pop-dots to give dimension to your mushrooms.
Lastly, cut out the Gentle Bunny from white card stock. Use the skinny brush from the Small Picket Fence Blending Brush Set and apply a tiny bit of ink from the Distress Oxide Worn Lipstick ink pad to colorize the ears, tail, and nose of the bunny. Use a pop-dot to adhere the bunny to the front of the card

This card is SO CUTE!!!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!

Join us for the next Card Making class!!
Tuesday, March 19th

Give us a call to sign up!! You MUST sign up by the Saturday before class to reserve a spot!!

360-647-9663

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Tuesday with Wendy, February 19th

2/22/2019

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What a FUN WEEK at card making class!!!

We really enjoyed having the students join us this week... and the ideas were just FLYING!!!

Check out the cards Wendy created:

The first card that Wendy designed was inspired from this Hero Arts stamp/die set, New Day Butterflies and this Stencil from Tim Holtz, Honeycomb

To make the card:

Start by taking a piece of dark blue paper. Use the new Distress Oxide Ink Spray, Wilted Violet. USE A BOX for spraying your ink in so it doesn't get ink everywhere!! On your piece of dark blue paper, lay down the Honeycomb stencil and hold it in place with one hand. With your other hand, spritz 1 OR 2 sprays of Oxide Spray Ink over the stencil. YOU DON'T NEED A LOT of ink!! When you remove the stencil you will see the image has transferred in a very soft pattern
Then, stamp the flower images (from the butterfly stamp set) onto the honeycomb stenciled image we just created. The flowers are stamped with the Versafine Clair Medieval Blue ink
Then, take a little bit of Bleed Proof White ink (a SMALL AMOUNT like 1/8 t. amount) in a little dish and apply a spritz of water and use an old tooth brush to pick up some color. Point the bristles of the tooth brush towards the paper (the honeycomb-stenciled paper) and lightly spread the bristles. You should see some specks of white transfer to the sheet of paper in a light splatter effect.
Next, stamp your Butterfly Images onto lavender card stock ALSO using Versafine Clair Medieval Blue ink. Use Tombow Markers to color your butterflies! *The Versafine Clair Ink does not bleed when you color with markers*
Use the Butterfly die-cuts to line up the images and use Washi Tape to hold the die-cuts in place. Run the die-cuts through your home die-cut machine
Now put your card together. The card base is a bright yellow card stock. On the front of the card, the honeycomb-stenciled paper we created will be on the left and a piece of decorative paper will be on the right side. Wendy used a narrow piece of purple ribbon to separate the 2 papers.
Then, Wendy glued down the CENTERS of each butterfly and then curled, bent, and raised the wings of each butterfly to give the idea of the butterflies about to take off!

I LOVE how this card turned out!! The tones match the patterned paper from the right side of the card PERFECTLY!! What a fun idea!!

The next card that Wendy created for card making class was ONE OF MY FAVORITES!!!

The card was inpsired from the Ocean Waves, Bold Prints image from Hero Arts as well as this die-cut message, Thanks also from Hero Arts

To make the card:

Start out by taking a piece of Solar White card stock and apply a rainbow-ombre across the sheet of paper using the LARGE Picket Fence Blending Brushes (The ULTRA SOFT ONES!!). Wendy used some fun colors of Distress Inks to create the rainbow... Mustard Seed, Mowed Lawn, Broken China, Wilted Violet, and Festive Berries

Once you have laid down a nice rainbow ombre on your card stock, stamp the Ocean Waves image onto the rainbow background using Versafine Onyx ink
Finally, cut out the sentiment in black card stock AND light weight Stardream Lagoon paper AT THE SAME TIME. Use the Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive to adhere the sentiment on the front of your card creating a shadow effect with the Stardream paper behind the sentiment

I LOVE THIS CARD!!! It is so beautiful and I LOVE the movement!!!

Check out some of these other ideas... Some of the gals had the idea of stamping the background a second time in the OPPOSITE direction... what a fun effect that created!!

Other gals decided to leave out the background stamp and just create a fun focal point with the Distress Inks and Picket Fence Blending Brushes!! SO MANY POSSIBILITIES!

The last card that Wendy designed was inspired by the NEW Heron from Whimsy Stamps!!

*We just started carrying this new company and we are SO IN LOVE with their designs!*

To make the card:

Start out by stamping the image using Versafine Clair Nocturne ink and your Tim Holtz Stamp Platform onto ivory card stock
Use Distress Inks and the SMALL Picket Fence Blending Brushes to color your image. The brushes are small enough and pick up *just enough color* of ink from the Distress Ink Pads to make it look like a watercolor effect! Take your time picking up different colors and shades to create the look you are after

Once you have colored your Heron image, fussy-cut around the image to bring out different parts of the image (like the trees along the top or the lily pads on the right side of the heron)
Use a piece of Handmade Paper that has a marbled image on it. Cut a small piece for the top of your card.. this is meant to give movement to the card.
Your card base is a piece of dark grey card stock. The layering piece is a piece of dark purple card stock. On this layer, at the top, adhere the small piece of marbled paper. After you adhere the marbled paper, adhere the Heron image to the purple card stock at the bottom. USE A POP DOT behind the heron and tress to give the card some dimension. Mount the purple piece of card stock to the front of your card base.

This is a BEAUTIFUL card!! Great for men's cards or for ANY occasion!!

Check out some of these other cards the gals made in class... I love how everyone cut out their Heron Image a little differently than the next!!

Card class was LOTS of fun this week!! We would love for you to join us at NEXT CLASS!!

It will be offered on March 5th. Give us a call to sign up!! 360-647-9663

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Translucent Papers, Ideas and More!

2/9/2019

Here at the store we carry several different kinds of paper.. and some of our favorite are the Translucent ones

Check out some of these fun ideas!!

When using Translucent Papers, you can really get creative with some of the techniques!! Because the Papers are so thin, however, you need to be careful which papers you use to get certain effects.

Let's start with Embossing Folders!

When you run Vellum in an Embossing Folder, it tends to "crack" .. in order to prevent this from happening, we recommend using a "carrier" of a piece of card stock AT THE SAME TIME so the Embossing Folder embosses both the vellum AND the card stock.

We wanted to know if you could emboss OTHER Translucent Papers..

But we found out you CANNOT emboss Matte Dura-Lar... it just DOESN'T hold texture!!!

Next we tried Embossing the Handmade Mulberry Paper (Wendy chose the SUPER THIN Mulberry Paper with No Inclusions). As you can see, the paper has a SUPER LIGHT embossed texture... neat for an overlay!!

Wendy played around with stamping on the SUPER THIN Mulberry Paper.. Here she used Staz-On Black ink

Wendy tore some of the images from the Mulberry Paper and then used Crystal Lacquer to adhere them to a painted white Wooden Canvas. When she did that, the MULBERRY PAPER DISAPPEARED and the image stayed vibrant!!!

Wendy also stamped some fun natural images in Archival Ink on the Thin Mulberry Paper so that when she does collage with the papers later the inks WON'T BLEED out... Archival Ink is permanent when dry!

You can stamp and Heat Emboss on 3 of these WONDERFUL translucent papers!!

Thick Vellum
Dura-Lar Wet Media Film
Dura-Lar Matte Film

Vellum has quite a bit of Tooth to it... so it has a rougher-feeling than the Dura-Lar. When you stamp and Heat-Emboss it will WANT TO CURL so make sure your Heat-Gun is nice and hot before you heat-emboss!

The Dura-Lar Wet Media Film LOOKS like Acetate but YOU CAN EMBOSS ON IT!!! You can also use dye-based markers on the Wet Media Film!! It also holds embossing beautifully.. just make sure to USE AN EMBOSSING PREP PAD before you emboss otherwise the Embossing Powder will stick everywhere!!

One of our FAVORITE PAPERS to use for Heat Embossing is the Matte Dura-Lar .. the Matte Dura-Lar is SO SMOOTH and it embosses WONDERFULLY!!

You can combine Dura-Lar Matte and Wet Media Film to do Multi-Step Stamping as well!!

I love the look of the Dura-Lar Wet Media Film here... we stamped and Heat-Embossed the Wings and used Tombow Markers to color the wings

Here, we did a combination of Dura-Lar Matte and Wet Media Film... the effect is wonderful!!

Gluing down just the middle of the Dragonfly and popping up the wings really makes the image come to life!

I LOVE this overlay art piece Wendy created!!!

First, Wendy used her Alocohol Inks to colorize the Translucent Papers like Stained Glass!!
Wendy stamped the new Nature Walk image stamps from Darkroom Door onto the Wet Media Film Dura-Lar using Black Staz-On ink
Then, Wendy used the Black Glaze Pen to add doodles and swirls to the papers
Next, Wendy cut out the new Hero Arts Butterfly Die-Cut out of black card stock and pasted it down.. it looks like stained glass when you look at the pieces through the light!

Wendy then created a Tri-Fold out of card stock and then sandwiched the pieces of Vellum, Matte Dura-Lar, and Wet Media Dura-Lar between another card stock Tri-Fold.

When the light passes through it you can REALLY see the colors!!

When the Tri-Fold is closed, you get this really cool card with overlays...

But when you open it up.. The colors COME TO LIFE!!!!

I am always so impressed with what you can create with the products we carry here at the store!!

Stop by to see us to get inspired! We would love to see you!

360-647-9663

Tuesday with Wendy, Jan 22

1/25/2019

This week for Wendy's card making class, Wendy was at it again designing cards you can use for Valentine's Day!!!

(And let's admit it... who doesn't love receiving a Valentine?!!?)

Check out how wonderful the cards are!!

The first card Wendy made was inspired from this set from Taylored Expressions, You Make My Heart Soar as well as 2 sets from Penny Black, Heart Balloons and Hearts Galore

To make the card:

Start with a pink piece of card stock as your card base
Take a piece of red card stock and a piece of Gold Stardream paper. Use your Home Die-cut Machine to cut out 2 sizes of the Heart Balloons at the same time.
ON THE INSIDE OF THE CARD, adhere the BACKGROUND of the the balloon cut-outs.. Take the Gold Stardream paper (with the Heart Balloon cut out of it) and adhere it with double-sided tape. THEN place the red card stock that is ALSO balloon shaped (with the little balloon shape cut-out of the middle) and adhere that in the middle of the balloon cut-out in the middle of the card. The red card stock Heart Balloon should fit PERFECTLY in the Gold Stardream cut-out Heart Balloon. You will have a piece of pink card stock peeking through that looks like a little pink heart balloon!
Stamp your sentiment, "Wishing you tons of love xoxo" in the middle of the pink heart balloon shape using Versafine Clair ink, Charming Pink and use Detail Gold Embossing Powder and heat-set it.

Next, ON THE FRONT OF THE CARD, lay down a piece of Lavendar Stardream paper and adhere it with double sided tape.
Now take a piece of Shizen Handmade Cotten Paper and cut out the die-cut, Hearts Galore (SAVE THE CUT-OUTS!! You can use those in a future card!). Now take the paper that has the little hearts cut out of it and adhere it onto the front of the card base, on top of the Lavendar Stardream paper
Take your 2 Heart Balloons and layer them on the front. Use the Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive to adhere the large Heart Balloon first. Then, use a pop-dot to pop-up the little Heart Balloon in the middle of the big Heart Balloon.
Tie a little bit of purple twine on the end of the little Heart Balloon and wrap the twine around the card and use a little bit of Deluxe Adhesive to hold the twine in place.
Next, stamp the Elephant image with Versafine Clair ink, Monarch. Fussy-cut the Elephant image and use a pop-dot to adhere him to the front of the card. Tie the other side of the twine around the trunk of the little elephant so it looks like the Heart Balloons are helping him soar!!

Isn't this such a sweet card?! I love how she used the Heart Balloons AND the reverse cut-outs to make this card fun on the inside and the outside!!

The next card that Wendy designed was made using the same 2 Penny Black die-cuts, Hearts Galore and Heart Balloons

To make the card:

Start with a piece of coral-colored card stock as your card base. Cut a piece of floral-themed paper and mount it onto the front of the card base using double-sided tape.
Use a piece of red card stock to cut out one of the Heart Balloons. Use the REVERSE heart-cut out piece and overlay a piece of Acetate on the back (so you have a heart window with Acetate covering it). Adhere the Acetate in place with double-sided tape.
Next, use Mounting Tape (on the Acetate side of the heart window) to wrap around the outside of the heart shape. Then tuck in the "confetti" heart cut-outs from the Hearts Galore die-cut, and adhere it to the front of the card base on top of the floral paper.
Take a small piece of Gold Stardream paper and cut out a smaller Heart Balloon and cut the "balloon tip" part of it so it looks like a normal heart. Use double-sided tape to adhere it in place.. Wendy was clever in designing this card.. she placed the gold heart so it COVERS the "balloon tip" of the heart window we created earlier
To finish off the card, Wendy used an *even smaller* piece of floral paper and cut a final small Heart Balloon and ALSO cut off the "balloon tip" part. She then mounted the heart onto the gold heart using a pop-dot.

I love how this card turned out!! This card is really fun as a Shaker Card.. but doesn't HAVE TO be one! The Acetate over the heart window is just so fun on it's own!!

The last card that Wendy designed was made using this STUNNING stamp set from Darkroom Door, Nature Walk, this die-cut from Paper Rose, Stitched Ovals as well as this sentiment stamp from Impression Obsession, One Person.

To make the card:

Wendy started out with an ivory-colored card stock and layered a piece of Gold-Leaf Stardream card stock onto the front of the card.
Then, Wendy used her Home Die-cut Machine to die-cut a Stitched Oval for the front of her card, she cut this out of the same ivory-colored card stock as her card base.
On the Stitched Oval, stamp the wildflower and sprigs from the Nature Walk stamp set. Wendy stamped with 2 colors of ink: Versafine, Smokey Grey AND Versafine Clair, Morning Mist. The 2 shades of grey look SO GOOD together!! Wendy stamped the images several times so you get the shadow effects from the "ghost" stamping
Then, Wendy stamped the sentiment on the same color of ivory card stock with the Versafine Smokey Grey ink. She tore the paper around the sentiment to give it a "distressed" look. Then she used the Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive to adhere the sentiment to a piece of dark brown card stock. She then tore around that card stock too so that she got a layered/shadow effect
Wendy mounted the sentiment to the front of the card by using a couple pop-dots

Isn't this just a GORGEOUS CARD? I love how simple and elegant it looks... fantastic design!!

Have you always wanted to take a card making class?? Give us a call to sign up for the next one!

Tuesday, February 5th
$10 class fee
*3 class times available*
PLEASE SIGN UP AHEAD OF TIME!!

360-647-9663

Embossing Powders, New Ideas!!

1/18/2019

This week for Demo, we played around with Embossing Powders!!

What is Embossing Powder?? It is a Powdered Resin that melts at 450 degrees. Embossing Powder will stick to wet ink, something sticky (such as double-sided tape), or even paint! You MUST use a heat gun to melt the ink to reach the desired 450 degrees to melt the powder.

...And before you even ask NO YOU CANNOT USE A HAIR DRYER!! (I tried! It broke my hair dryer!! Why won't this work?? Because a hair dryer will NEVER reach 450 degrees... it would melt your head!!)

Please use a heat gun, we sell them here at the store and they are a wonderful tool to have on hand :-)

Traditionally, to do Heat Embossing, you'll need:

A Heat Gun
Ink (Pigment Ink works best)
Embossing Powder
Stamp

First, stamp your image with Pigment Ink, sprinkle on Embossing Powder (cover the entire image and shake off the excess back into the bottle), and then use a Heat Gun to heat-set the image.

You can use:

Colored Pigment Ink with Clear Powder -- When you stamp an image with Colored Ink and Clear Embossing Powder, you get a raised image in the COLOR OF INK you chose

Clear ink with Colored Embossing Powder -- When you stamp and image with Clear ink and Colored Embossing Powder, you get a raised image in the COLOR OF POWDER you chose

Multi-colored Embossing can be REALLY fun!!

Stamp your image with Pigment Ink (such as Versamark or Versafine)
Sprinkle on one color of Embossing Powder and shake off the excess in ONE DIRECTION off the page so the powder doesn't cover the entire image. Put excess powder back in the bottle
Now sprinkle on a second color of Embossing Powder, this time covering the entire image. Shake off the excess and put it back in the bottle.
NOW heat-set the entire image and watch in awe as the powders melt together to create beautiful tones!!

Now that we've explained HOW heat-embossing works, we can show you NEW WAYS to use it!!

Did you know Embossing Powder sticks to Acrylic Paint?!!? That's right.. you can paint an image.. taking your time to add in details.. and THEN sprinkle on Embossing Powder. The powder will stick to the Acrylic Paint. When you heat-set the powder, the powder will melt in the areas where it stuck to the paint!!

Here, I used 3 colors of Embossing Powder to colorize the Octopus (Carnelian, Detail Gold, and Detail Black). After the Octopus was colored, I went back in with Acrylic Paint to create suction cups and used Detail Black Embossing Powder. I heat-set the image again, this time only the Detail Black Embossing Powder on the suction cups melted... the rest of the image retained it's detail

Did you know... Embossing Powder STICKS TO TAPE?!!?!?

Yes, it does!! You can take a strip of Double-Sided Tape and lay it on your paper... maybe create a grid or plaid.. and then apply your Embossing Powder (I buffed in the powder a little bit into the tape to make sure the powder stayed STUCK to the tape!!) Shake off the excess Embossing Powder into the bottle and heat-set the Embossing Powder that is stuck to the tape.

IT IS SO COOL!! I love how you can make a quick frame for your sentiment.. and the sentiment can be stamped and embossed in the SAME COLOR!!

Ok, Ok... now for the good stuff!!

YOU CAN EMBOSS ON ROCKS!!

Stamp an image with Versamark ink, apply Embossing Powder, and then Heat Emboss with your heat-gun! **THIS TAKES AWHILE** to heat because the rock has to heat up.

THE ROCK IS VERY HOT after you melt your Embossing Powder, so please be very careful. I recommend waiting for about 5 minutes before touching the rock so it has plenty of time to cool down.

You can also HEAT EMBOSS ON TILE!!!!!

Stamp your image with Pigment-Based ink and then emboss with Detail Clear Embossing Powder

**THIS TAKES AWHILE TO SET** because the tile needs to heat up. The tile will be VERY HOT for about 5 minutes. Be careful!! I usually wait for the tile to cool completely before I touch it.

The leaves will be raised up in the color of ink you chose.. the effect is WONDERFUL and hot glasses will be able to sit on it without harming the embossed image. HOW COOL IS THAT?!

With this next idea, you can use die-cut letters to cut out a word. Then, take the Super Soft Blending Brushes and brush Versamark, clear ink, over the words and sprinkle on Embossing Powder. The powder will stick to where you applied the ink! Heat-set the image to make the words pop on the paper!! Back your words with a bright-colored paper.

Do you have a large selection of Embossing Powders? Well, now is a great time to get them out and play!!

We are FULL of ideas and inspiration around here, so if you need any help, feel free to stop by!

360-647-9663

Life Changing Blending Brushes

1/11/2019

This week for Demo, we learned all about the AMAZING new Picket Fence Life Changing Blending Brushes!!

Picket Fence Blending Brushes are for blending your Dye-based or Pigment-based inks. The bristles are SUPER SOFT and are made from synthetic, plastic fibers. DO NOT GET THESE NEAR YOUR HEAT GUN!!! (otherwise those super soft bristles will melt!!)

There is SO MUCH you can do with these brushes!! There is a nice video up that really helps show how these brushes work.. and if you haven't played with the brushes yet, I highly recommend watching it!!

Now, at first glance the brushes look like foam... but they are actually brushes with SUPER DENSE bristles so you can really blend those colors together!!

Did I mention yet that these brushes are HEAVENLY SOFT?!!? Because they are. I mean it feels like FUR!!

Right off the bat, we talked about blending with Distress Inks. I LOVE Distress Inks because you get the BEAUTIFUL gradation of color!!

Here, we blended from Olive tones to Yellow tones using one of the brushes from the LARGE SET... just look how beautiful that blend is!!

Look how easy it is to cover a piece of paper!! Here we just used a few colors to show how a sunset background might be created...

Here is another fun way to use your brushes!

Just stamp an image with Versamark ink and heat emboss with detail white embossing powder.

Then brush your inks over the top to reveal the image you stamped!! In the sample below, see how we stamped and embossed the image "Yes, but no, but yes" from Impression Obsession. Then, we used 4 colors of Distress Inks to go over the image

In the Small Set, there are these skinny blending brushes... which I love to use for creating shadows!!

We used the Distress Ink, Weathered Wood as the background color and used the 2 sizes of skinny blending brushes to add in the Distress Inks Stormy Sky and Chipped Sapphire around the banner image below... just look how you can really get in the corners of the image!!

You can also blend with your pigment inks!! Here, I used the new Versafine Clair Inks to show how EASY it is to blend them together!!!

First, we stamped and embossed an image with detail black embossing powder.
Then, we brushed in some inks.. starting with the Versafine Clair Warm Breeze, then Twilight, and finally Nocturne at the top.
Next, we took a little bit of Brush Kleener on the end of a blending brush and buffed-out a Moon!!
We "flicked" a little bit of Brush Kleener across the image to look like a night sky.
Finally, we took the Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Pen and made the Moon look iridescent!!

Isn't this SO COOL?!?!

Now, traditionally, once the Versafine Clair inks are dry, they are waterproof. But one of our customers at Demo suggested using Stamp Cleaner (Brush Kleener) to remove some ink and IT WORKED!!!

I love the effect... Thanks for the idea Joanne!!

You can also use die-cuts as a mask for creating interesting scenes and backgrounds on a piece of card stock.. here we cut out the Fresh Pine Forest Landscape die-cut from Memory Box and used it as a mask. Then we used the Blending Brushes to apply inks over the top.

You can even use the reverse image as a mask!! Great for creating rows of trees!!

When using the Blending Brushes, I found using a paper that has a coating on it is the BEST because you have more work-time with the inks! Below, I used a Rainbow Ink Pad (Kaleidacolor ink pad) to blend inks across the surface. The inks blend and move BEAUTIFULLY on both Kromkote and Stardream papers

On the Kromokote paper, the inks float on the surface just long enough to blend the inks across the full sheet of paper... and then the inks dry immediately and remain just as vibrant as when you blended them!!

Here, we showed the EXACT same technique on Ice Gold Stardream paper.. and as you can see the colors are more pastel because the ink FALLS BELOW THE METALLIC FINISH of the paper. Because of this metallic coating, the inks stay wet long enough for you to blend them.. and the results are WONDERFUL

A SUPER FAST way to use your Blending Brushes is to apply Pearl-Ex Powders.

Start by first stamping an image with Versamark Ink (clear ink) and then use the Blending Brushes to brush on a SMALL amount of Pearl-Ex powders and become AMAZED as the stamped image appears before your eyes!!

There are SO MANY THINGS you can do with these Life Changing Blending Brushes...

The Blending Brushes come in 2 sets.. Large Set and the Small Set.

If you would like to order your very own set, give us a call today!!

360-647-9663

New Year, NEW STUFF!!

1/5/2019

I know many of you were *JUST HERE* for our wonderful New Year's Day sale!! Thank you everyone who attended!

Of course, as is tradition around here, we just got in MORE NEW STUFF!!!

Check out all the fun goodies on the counter just waiting for you!

There is SO MUCH to see!!!

The thing that caught my attention first was ALL THE BRAND NEW Poppy and Memory Box die-cuts!!!

Look how fun these new Valentine's Designs are!!

And, this is just sneak peak... there are BOXES of new dies to look through! The new Whittle Animals dies are SO CUTE I was definitely screaming!!

The next thing that caught my attention was all the BRAND NEW stamps and dies from Penny Black!!

OH MY GOSH THEY ARE SO GOOD!!

In my opinion, Penny Black makes the best sentiment stamps... just look how wonderful!!

You'll have to stop by the store to see everything in person.. all I can say is we LOVE it all..

AND, AND, AND if that wasn't enough, the ALL NEW Hero Arts Shop Box just got here too!!!

With GREAT new images and sentiments... we think you will love it too!!

Now, you KNOW I saved the BEST FOR LAST!!!

That's right... NEW PAPER!!!

WE LOVE ALL OF THESE NEW PAPERS!!!

There are some wonderful designs for winter and some fantastic florals that can be used year-around

AND THE BEST PART?!?!!?

ALL NEW Graphic 45!!!!!

YAY!!!!

Just look how wonderful and precious these papers are!! The Imagine Collection is so WONDERFUL with all the steampunk looks and the intricate designs that we have always loved about Graphic 45 papers!

The new Graphic 45 Princess Collection is MY NEW FAVORITE!!! I want to use this line all the time, I just LOVE IT!!

Stop by to see us 7 days a week to see just how wonderful it all is!!

Give us a call if you have any questions, we are always happy to help!
360-647-9663

Tuesday with Wendy, Dec 4th

12/4/2018

This week's Tuesday with Wendy cards are SO MUCH FUN for this time of year!!

Check out how exciting they are!!!

The first card that Wendy designed was inspired from this Paper Rose Stamp Set, Cozy Christmas as well as this die-cut from Taylored Expressions, Birch Tree Border

To make the card:

Use your home die-cut machine to cut out the Birch Tree Border from ivory card stock and cut a snow drift (for the bottom of the card) using a pair of scissors to cut a nice snow drift
Use Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive to adhere the tree and snow drift in place
Use the Versafine Clair ink, Nocturne, to stamp the little animals from the Paper Rose stamp set. Wendy arranged the animals in a cute way... I LOVE how she perched the little bird on the hat of the little bear!!
Stamp the little Snowflake image with Hero Arts White Ink around the tree.
Use Prismacolor colored pencils to color in the little images from the stamp set, like the little bears, birds, and owl
Finish off the card by applying Marvy Liquid Applique along the branches of the tree. Use a heat gun to dry the Liquid Applique and watch as it raises and puffs.. making it look JUST LIKE SNOW!

LOOK HOW CUTE this card is!!!!

Not only are the little animals so cute, but this card is great for the Winter Season!!

Check out how one of the gals colored their images... I LOVE IT!!!

The next card Wendy designed was inspired from this tree design from Penny Black, Christmas Foliage and this ADORABLE die-cut set from Impression Obsession, small birds

To make the card:

Wendy used the Tim Holtz Stamp Platform to apply the Versafine Clair inks to the Tree image.. She applied the Rain Forest ink to the foliage part of the tree and the Pinecone ink to the trunk of the tree.
Stamp the image onto ivory card stock
Cut out the Little Birds die-cut (from Impression Obsession) out of black card stock and arrange the birds on your tree in an appealing way. Use Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive to adhere the birds to the tree

The last card that Wendy designed was inspired from this new stencil from Kaisercraft, Sea Urchins and this Sea Urchin stamp from Fred B. Mullett

To make the card:

Use the new Seashell Wide Washi Tape from Altenew and adhere a strip along the left side of the card base
Wendy cut out a piece of background paper for the right side of the card (she chose a paper from the Kiasercraft Deep Sea Collection, Anemone) and stamped the Sea Urchin Stamp using the Versafine Clair ink, Monarch. Wendy stamped the Sea Urchin image several times on the background paper. Use double-sided tape to adhere the paper down.
Next, take a piece of white card stock and rip the edges to make it look distressed. Use the new Picket Fence Large Blending Brushes to apply Distress Ink to the piece of card stock. Wendy used Distress ink colors Wilted Violet and Broken China. The new Blending Brushes are SO SOFT and work great for applying a soft layer of ink.
Use a Palette Knife to apply some Light Molding Paste to the Silicone Craft Mat to create 2 piles of paste... one is colored with Violet ColorBurst and the other is colored with Ultramarine Blue ColorBurst
Use the Light Molding Paste and the Sea Urchins stencil to apply a thin layer of the Light Molding Paste to the SAME piece of ripped card stock.
Sprinkle some Multi Crystal Glitter Mix to the Sea Urchin-stenciled paste while it is still wet.
Put a piece of the the Gold Mesh Ribbon in the middle of the card and use The Ultimate Glue to adhere the ripped strip of paper on top of everything.
Stamp the Sea Urchin stamp onto teal card stock and heat emboss with Detail Gold Embossing Powder. Fussy-cut the Sea Urchin image and use Mounting Tape to adhere the Sea Urchin image so it adds dimension

Just look HOW FUN this card is!!! We love how artistic it is... and the movement of the Sea Urchin throughout the card is just PERFECT!

One of the gals in class decided to sprinkle on the Detail Gold Embossing Powder on top of the wet Molding Paste and used a Heat Gun to heat-set it. The effect that is created is called the "Molten Lava" effect... and although this technique was not taught in class... it still looks SO COOL for this card!!!

Join us for the next Tuesday with Wendy!! It will be offered on December 18th.

Give us a call to sign up!! 360-647-9663

Paper Lanterns!!

12/1/2018

Last week for Demo we learned about making Paper Lanterns!!

Check out these fun ideas!!

With each of the lanterns that has Vellum, you can use a battery-operated tea-light to light them up. We were able to find several at our local dollar store

This first idea was SO MUCH FUN to create!!!

Using the new Picket Fence Blending Brushes, we applied a light coat of Distress Ink to this piece of Vellum... then we stamped the Skaters stamp from Impression Obsession on the bottom part of the lantern and made.. this LITTLE TENT LANTERN!!!! It turned out *so cute* and is even better when you light it up at night!!

This next idea was SO EASY to put together.. and although this Paper Lantern does not light up, it is great for celebrating the Chinese New Year or for hanging up multiple lanterns outside for a garden party... just some strips of paper, twine, and a few embellishments make for a nice, easy decoration!!

You can make your own tassel by wrapping a bit of twine, creating a knot, and fraying the end

This next idea is inspired from the new Mushroom Paper we just got in from Renke Designs.. we fussy-cut the little mushrooms and used the Distress Ink, Walnut Stain to add a distressed look to the Paper Lantern.

We used a die-cut machine to cut out the ovals and backed the open ovals with Vellum. The bottom of the lantern is open so it can be set on top of a votive

If you are looking for a quick way to make holiday Paper Lanterns, look no further than the new Tim Holtz / Sizzix Tree Light die-cut. The die-cut comes with 2 sizes of trees with little cut-out holes at the bottom so you can easily set it on top of a battery-operated tea-light.. and they are just SO SWEET!!!!

You can make quick Paper Lanterns by stamping a strip of Vellum with Stampscapes stamps... adhere the strip of Vellum to the backside of a strip of card stock (using Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive) and score it in 4 places to create the box-shape of a lantern..

In the samples below, the lantern on the left has stamped images on the inside of the Vellum and the lantern on the right has the images stamped on the outside of the Vellum.

Just look HOW BEAUTIFUL this turned out!!!

This next idea fits into a standard envelope size... and is easy enough to stand up on a desk!

We embossed the Vellum with the Tiny Dots Embossing Folder from Sizzix and used nature image die-cuts from Memory Box and Impression Obsession.. the black silhouettes look SO GOOD on the embossed Vellum!! Especially when the Paper Lantern is lit up!!

There is always a lot around here to get inspired by... stop by to see us 7 days a week to see what's new!!

360-647-9663

Tuesday with Wendy, Nov 20th

11/23/2018

This week for Tuesday with Wendy card making class, Wendy was inspired by the winter and holiday images!!!

Check out the 3 cards and FALL IN LOVE because they are just fantastic!!

The first card that Wendy designed was inspired from this Stampscapes image, Pines and Rocks as well as this die-cut from Poppy, Magnificent Moose

To make the card:

Start out by selecting a metallic paper to cut out your Moose die-cut and frame from. Wendy chose this marbled card stock that has a gold/champagne color to it.
Use the Hero Arts Rounded Rectangle die-cut set to cut out a rounded rectangle out of the marbled card stock paper. Use the inside piece of the cut-out to then cut out your Moose
Use The Ultimate Glue to adhere a piece of Acetate to the back side of the rounded rectangle cut-out
Stamp the Pines and Rocks image using the Versafine Clair ink, Rain Forest
Use Mounting Tape to adhere the Rounded Rectangle to the paper that has the Pines and Rocks image stamped on it.... This will create dimension for a shaker card *PLACE SEQUINS INSIDE THE SHAKER CARD* before you adhere it completely!!!
Layer the card with solid green card stock and paper with pinecones on it for the patterned paper.
Mount the design onto the front of your card base, which is white card stock

**Look below, to see how one of the gals cut out a second moose to make it even MORE FUN!**

Just look how fun this card is!!

And the best part is... it's a SHAKER CARD!!! (Which is just so fun... whether you are making a card for kids or adults)

This design is great for cards for men or a card for the Hunter in your life... and the patterned paper is PERFECT for the Pacific Northwest

The next card that Wendy designed was inspired from this Stampendous image, Snow Bird

To make the card:

Stamp and heat emboss the Snow Bird image with Versamark ink and Moonstone Embossing Powder
Color the image using Prismacolor colored pencils... Wendy chose 3 tones of light brown to add some tone-on-tone color to the Snow Bird
Layer the image with the light brown marbled paper and mount the image onto the embossed handmade paper and adhere it using The Ultimate Glue
Adhere the design onto the front of your card base. Wendy chose an ivory colored card stock as the card base
As a final touch, use Nuvo Crystal Drops, Ivory Seashell, to add some berries onto the Snow Bird branch.. the color and texture mimics the embossed handmade paper perfectly!!!

What a stunning card!!! Such a perfect image for the winter season..

The last Card that Wendy designed was inspired from this stamp and die set from Spellbinders, Christmas Joy and this die-cut from Poppy, Whittle Moose

To make the card:

Use the Hero Arts Infinity Circles die-cut set to cut out 2 sizes of circles. Use a dark brown card stock for the larger circle and a decorative paper for the smaller circle (for this card, Wendy chose this whimsical tree paper from Photoplay and it is SO CUTE)
Stamp your Christmas Tree with Versafine Clair ink, Rain Forest
Color your Christmas Tree with light green and yellow Tombow Markers. Then use the Christmas Tree die-cut to cut out your tree
On your green card stock base, adhere a small strip of dark green card stock in the middle to add color contrast
Use double sided tape to adhere the layered circles on the right side of your card
Die-cut the Whittle Moose out of brown suede paper and use Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive to adhere the Moose to the middle of the layered circles
On the left side of the card, use pop-dots to adhere the stamped Christmas Tree image.
At the top of the card, stamp the Christmas sentiment in Versafine Clair ink, Rain Forest
Finish off the card by tying a bit of red polka-dot ribbon along the left side of the card and tie a little knot to hold it in place

This Christmas card is JUST ADORABLE!!!!

I love the colors, the movement, and how the tree paper matches the tree stamp perfectly!!

Fantastic cards this week!!!

To sign up for the next card making class, give us a call here at the store!!

The next card making class will be offered on Tuesday, December 4th
*Please sign up by the Saturday before class*

360-647-9663

Tuesday with Wendy, Nov 6th

11/10/2018

Check out how wonderful the cards are this week!!! Wendy decided to make Winter/Christmas cards for this series.. and I just LOVE them as a set!!

The first card Wendy designed was inspired by this die-cut image from Impression Obsession, Deer Frame

To make the card:

Use your home die-cut machine to cut out the Deer Frame from Brown Stardream card stock
Mount the image onto patterned paper (Wendy used the paper that had a Holly pattern on it)
Use a couple pop-dots behind the deer's head to add dimension. To adhere the rest of the Deer Frame, use Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive
Layer the image with a bit of red card stock and mount it all on to your card base (ivory card stock)
Use a bit of decorative ribbon and tie a little ribbon around the neck of the Deer. Wendy used a nice green and red gingham ribbon
Lastly, use Nuvo Crystal Drops, Red Berry, to add a nose onto the deer!! Now your Deer is Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer!!

What a fun card!! I love the addition of he red nose!

This die-cut is such a stunning image.. could be used for a variety of different cards!

The next card Wendy designed was made using this absolutely GORGEOUS stamp set from Hero Arts, Color- Layering Poinsettia

To make the card:

Start out by stamping the Poinsettia. This is a color-layering stamp set, meaning you will stamp the images in a "layering" fashion to achieve a desired effect. Stamp the poinsettias onto Solar White card stock
Stamp the BOLD images first in light colored ink and the detail images last in darker colored ink
Use the color Pallet Listed Below
- Poinsettia: Distress Oxide Worn Lipstick, Versafine Clair Galmorous, Versafine Clair Chianti
- Leaves: Distress Oxide Peeled Paint, Versafine Clair Rain Forest
Once you have stamped-out the Poinsettias, fussy cut along one edge to make them stand out a little more
Use double-sided tape to adhere the stamped poinsettia images to the right side of your card base (red card stock)
On the left side of your card, adhere a piece of decorative holiday paper. Wendy chose this paper that has poinsettias in it to replicate the movement and theme of the Poinsettia Stamp we used.
Add a bit of red ribbon down the middle of the card, giving separation between the decorative paper and the stamped poinsettia images
On a brown tag shape, stamp out a nice sentiment, Wendy stamped "Merry Christmas" with Versafine Clair Rain Forest ink
Tie a bit of green twine through the tag and tie it around the red ribbon on the card
Use a pop-dot to adhere the tag to the front of the card

What a BEAUTIFUL Holiday Card!! This is so sweet and the paper really ties in with the Poinsettia Stamp!!

The last card from this series was designed using this Snowflake Turnabout Stamp from Concord & 9th

The idea with "Turnabout" stamps is that you can stamp the same image 4 times with a different color ink each time... just turning your paper 90 degrees after each stamp.

Below you can see the idea and effect of using a Turnabout Stamp:

To make the card:

Wendy used the Tim Holtz Stamp Platform and placed the Turnabout Snowflake Stamp onto the platform
Wendy created a template for this stamp. The template below shows where you lay your square piece of card stock (4" x 4" white card stock)
Create a template by lining out a 6" x 6" area that the stamp takes up
Measure out a nice 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" square in the middle of the 6" x 6" template
In the middle of the 4 1/2 x 4 1/2" template, that is where you will lay your card stock to stamp
Ink up the Snowflake Turnabout Stamp and stamp it on your paper using Versafine Clair Warm Breeze ink
Lift up the stamp platform and ink up your stamp again with Versafine Clair Twilight ink, and rotate your paper 90 degrees MAKING SURE to keep it in the middle of your template
Continue to stamp and rotate until you have coated the entire piece of card stock in snowflakes

Then, take the paper you just stamped and mount it onto the front of a blue card base, leaving space at the bottom of the card
Stamp out a sentiment (Wendy chose "Snowflake kisses and Holiday wishes" from the Concord & 9th clear Turnabout Stamp set. She stamped the sentiment in Versafine Clair Twilight ink onto white card stock and mounted it onto blue card stock for color contrast
Mount the sentiment onto the snowflake background image at a slight angle and adhere with pop-dots
Take a piece of white card stock that measures 8 1/2" x 3" and cut a wavy edge along one of the long sides. Then cut the paper in half. You just created 2 snow drifts
Place the snow drifts along the bottom of the card, using pop-dots to add dimension to the snow drift on the very bottom of the card
To finish off the card, Wendy used Star Dust and Crystal Stickles along the edge of each snow drift
Lastly, Wendy used patterned paper with bears on it and fussy-cut a few polar bears. She used pop-dots to adhere them to the snow drifts and made it look like they were playing in the snow!!

I just LOVE how fun this card is!! What a fun idea!

Join us for the NEXT Tuesday with Wendy class!!

SIGN UP AHEAD OF TIME by calling the store!!

Tuesday, November 20th

360-647-9663

Mail Art Fun!

11/2/2018

Last week for Demo, Bekah was the demonstrator! She shared some ideas on how to make your mailing envelopes MORE FUN!!!

This is a fun idea!! Here, Bekah showed how you can use a stamp just along the edge! She picked this fun image from Stampotique and stamped just the top part of the body... then she used the No-Line Watercolor Technique to really make the image stand out!!

You can learn about no-line watercolors by visiting our past blog:
https://www.stampadoodle.com/stampadoodle-blog/no-line-watercolors

Taylored Expressions makes some REALLY fun stamp sets for decorating envelopes!

Check out this Halloween set, Spooky Mail, that Bekah stamped and heat-embossed onto a black envelope!!

Taylored Expressions offers 3 different sets for decorating envelopes... Love Mail, Snail Mail, and Spooky Mail

This is a fun idea!! Bekah explained how you can use the techinique from the Reflections Demo to add a reverse stamp image on the front of an envelope!

Hint: Use your Silicone Craft Mat!!

Learn more about creating Reflections by checking out this past blog:
https://www.stampadoodle.com/stampadoodle-blog/category/reflections

Here, Bekah used the Lawn Fawn stamp set, Concert Critters

If you want to add some fun additions to your envelope, but don't have time to get out your stamps, you can use Mrs. Grossman's stickers!!

These Monster and Birthday stickers that Bekah chose are just PERFECT on this lime green envelope!!

You can add a fun element by creating a mask:

Cut out a circle and lay it on the front of an envelope. Use a tiny piece of double-sided tape to hold the circle in place
Use Nuvo Blending Sponges to apply some Distress Ink. Bekah used 3 colors of Distress Ink: Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, and Peeled Paint
Gently blend the ink into the paper by softly rubbing the sponges across the surface of the envelope. Start with the lighter colors and then add the darker colors
Once you have applied a generous amount of ink, remove the stencil mask
Use fun pens to address your envelope in the empty space you created with the mask (Bekah used a Parrellel Pen on the sample below)

I love how Bekah followed the curve of the circle here!! It looks SO FUN!!

Wouldn't you love to receive this bit of art in the mail?!?

Stop by to see us 7 days a week!!

See you soon, friends!!

360-647-9663

Stationery, DIY and Gift Idea!

11/2/2018

Here at the store, we are gearing up for the holiday season!!

One of the things we have been looking at are Gift Ideas!! Check out this idea with making Stationery Sets

You can use your own Sizzix Big-Shot machine to emboss cards to make a FANTASTIC gift set!!!

A *perfect* gift idea for a friend, the card-maker in your life, or anyone you know who loves to write letters (like a grandparent or grandkids!)

This is a WONDERFUL Monogram Letter Set and it comes with 26 individual embossing folders so you can customize envelopes, card stock, book-cloth and MORE!!

Check out this idea... you can emboss your Monogram into the back of envelopes!!!

Create some nice stationery by combining matching cards and envelopes and emboss both to create a set!!

This set with the Silver Foiled Envelope makes this card look so elegant!! Add a bit of metallic ribbon to really tie the set together

You can even make a nice focal point using the embossing folder found in the Jar Lids die-cut set.

Emboss the ring onto card stock and stamp a Monogram on the inside!!

With an added bit of adhesive-backed ribbon, you can really make a Monogram pop! Such a great gift idea using any Letter Stamp Set you already have!

There is so much you can create with just these 2 sets from Sizzix...

Stop by today to get inspired!!

360-647-9663

Tuesday with Wendy, Oct 23rd

10/26/2018

We have been busy creating new things here at the store! Check out the newest cards Wendy designed for her last card making class!!!

The first card that Wendy designed was made using this snowflake die-cut from Penny Black, Crystalline as well as this stamp set from Lawn Fawn, Winter Scripty Sentiments

To make the card:

Start out with a white card stock card base. Select a piece of Handmade Paper 4" x 4" (Wendy used this iridescent blue/green paper that looks like ice!). Use double-sided tape to adhere the paper to the front of the card base.
Next, cut a piece of navy card stock that measures 3" x 3" and adhere that to the front of the Handmade Paper
Take 2 pieces of Stardream TEXT WEIGHT paper that both measure 3" x 3". Wendy used Stardream Ice Gold paper. Stack the 2 Stardream papers together and die-cut the Crystalline Snowflake out of the papers at the same time
Then, use Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive to adhere ONE of the snowflakes completely to the front of the navy card stock
With the second snowflake, press the Versamark ink pad to the snowflake until it has clear ink all over the snowflake. Sprinkle on Star Dust Embossing Powder and heat-set it with a heat gun
Use Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive to adhere the CENTER ONLY to the other snowflake and curl up the ends of the snowflake to add dimension
Then, take 6 strips of paper (1/4" x 8 1/2" for each strip) and curl each strip into a little circle.. this is called Quilling. When you have completed your curl, use Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive to hold the curl in place.
Then attach the coils to the center of the snowflake on your card and adhere the coils with Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive
Finish off the card by stamping a sentiment from the Winter Scripty Sentiments along the bottom of the card using Versafine Clair ink, Twilight

I LOVE how this card turned out!! Just look at this DETAIL!!!!

The next card was SO STUNNING and is absolutely perfect for a Thanksgiving card... It was made using these stamps:
Winter Still by Penny Black
Grateful Hearts by Impression Obsession

To make the card:

Wendy started out by taking a piece of ivory card stock and stamping out the Grateful Hearts sentiment using Versafine Clair ink, Chianti
Then, Wendy inked up the Winter Still leaf image by tapping on the different colors of ink. Use Distress Ink starting with Rusty Hinge, then Aged Mahogany, then Peeled Paint.. making sure to tap and gently massage the ink into the stamp
Then, stamp out the Winter Still leaf image onto the ivory card stock, overlapping the leaf image with the sentiment just slightly.
Then, layer the ivory card stock onto a card base.. Wendy chose this beautiful fall-tones color that matched with the Rusty Hinge ink color PERFECTLY

I love how this card turned out! Such a quick technique with BEAUTIFUL results!!!

Mary McClary (one of the gals from class) said she accidentally messed up on her card!! But, clever as she is.. she used some of the quilling papers to make it BETTER!!!

Well, I just LOVE that!!

The last card of the series was inspired by this STUNNING image from Impression Obsession, Deployed

To make the card:

Stamp out the image in Versafine Clair ink, Medieval Blue onto white card stock
Use a Blue Tombow Marker to color onto a craft mat and use a Waterbrush to pick up some of the color. Watercolor your image giving light and dark tones to create depth
Use a pair of scissors to fussy-cut around the image.. cut around the head and around the feet so that it looks like the soldier is walking away
Mount the image on a piece of red card stock and apply mounting tape on the back
On your card base, use red-white-blue decorative card stock and put one pattern on the left and a corresponding pattern on the right
Adhere the soldier image onto the card front using the mounting tape so it has a little bit of dimension

This card is GREAT for anyone who may be Serving our Country or a Veteran of War... it is just a FANTASTIC card

I love how this card has the idea of a 3D card without having to do a lot of extra fussy-cutting

What a GREAT series of cards this week!!!

If you would like any of the items listed above, please give us a call at the store!

To sign up for the NEXT card making class on November 6th, give us a call!
You only need to bring double-sided tape and scissors to class, but you MUST register by the Saturday before class!!

360-647-9663

Tuesday with Wendy, Oct 2nd

10/7/2018

This week for card making class, Wendy was inspired by Fall images!!!

Check out this week's grouping of cards!! Aren't they WONDERFUL?!!?

The first card Wendy designed was made using this Spiderweb Stencil from Taylored Expressions and the Spider Trio die-cut and Happy stamp both from Impression Obsession

To make the card:

On a piece of black card stock, lay the Spiderweb stencil in place and use Versamark ink (ink pad side down on the stencil) and apply the ink across the entire spiderweb image
Lift away the stencil and apply Detail Black embossing powder across the entire piece of black card stock, coating the spiderweb image in embossing powder. Heat-set the image
On a smaller piece of black card stock, stamp the Happy stamp with Versamark Ink and heat emboss with Detail Black embossing powder. Layer a piece of silver paper behind this image too and mount that on top of the spiderweb image
Next, die-cut one of the spiders from the Spider Trio (Wendy picked the biggest one!) out of Black Glitter card stock
Pick out a fun-colored sequin to embellish the spider and use Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive to adhere the sequin to the spider.
Place a pop dot on the underside of the spider, then place a piece of small silver twine underneath the pop dot and THEN adhere the spider to the front of the spiderweb image.. you can have the spider crawling over the sentiment if you want!
Then, tuck the silver twine behind the black card stock and use some double-sided tape to hold it in place.
The card base is a piece of ivory card stock. Layer the spiderweb image with a piece of text weight silver paper and mount it on the card base using double-sided tape

EEEE!!!! What a FUN CARD!!!!

The NEXT 2 CARDS are made using the new Tim Holtz Lift Ink and this beautiful image, Windswept Leaves from Impression Obsession

Now, I know I have posted this video before, but for those of you who are unfamiliar with how the new Lift Ink works, I highly recommend watching this video!!

Tim Holtz begins to explain about the new Lift Ink at minute 26:00

To make the cards:

USE GLOVES and GRUBBY CLOTHING when doing Alcohol Inks because they can be messy!!!
Take a little bit of Alcohol Blending Solution and float it on a small piece of YUPO paper
Use a few Alcohol Ink colors and apply just a drop or 2 of each color onto the YUPO.. watch as the vibrant colors flow and move across the paper.. WOW!!
Use a heat-gun to heat-set the Alcohol Ink colors

Then, once your alcohol ink image is COMPLETELY DRY, apply the Lift Ink onto the Windswept Leaves image.. (your stamp should be VERY CLEAN before you start because you don't want to transfer any old ink into your Lift Ink Pad)
Stamp the Windswept Leaves image with Lift Ink directly onto the YUPO paper right on top of the Alcohol Ink background you created.
THEN stamp directly onto a piece of white card stock.. and watch as the color of the Alcohol Ink background is now the color your Windswept Leaves are!!!
NOW take a CLEAN piece of paper towel and DAB the ink off the Alcohol Ink background.
Once you have dabbed off the Lift Ink, take a clean piece of paper towel and BUFF out the Windswept Leaves image.. and don't gasp too loud because the effect is REALLY AMAZING!!!

You will now have 2 separate Windswept Leaves images.
One of the images is layered with a bit of green card stock and some bright purple handmade paper and mounted onto a soft green card stock base
The other Windswept Leaves image is layered with a bit of ivory card stock, dark brown card stock, and mounted onto a light brown card base. Wendy added a touch of textured ribbon on the side of the card to add some interest.

Aren't these cards STUNNING?! I just love how they compliment each other!!

If you want to join in all the fun by participating in the NEXT Tuesday with Wendy class, give us a call!!

Tuesday, October 23rd

Choose the time that works best for you!
11am -- 1:30pm -- 6pm

PLEASE SIGN UP BY THE SATURDAY BEFORE CLASS!!!
360-647-9663

No-Line Watercolors

9/25/2018

Last week for Demo, Bekah was the demonstrator and she showed us all how to do No-Line Watercoloring... and the technique is pretty impressive!!

The key to No-Line Watercoloring is to stamp an image with a stamp ink that actually disappears when you use watercolors over it.. the best ink for this project is a light color of Distress Ink

As you can see, When Bekah began to watercolor, the lines from the stamp ink DISAPPEAR!!!

Check out this idea where Bekah stamped out the Fluffy Bird stamp from Impression Obsession and then used the Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Pen to watercolor the image... I LOVE IT!!

Here, Bekah stamped out this floral image and watercolored the entire image.. I LOVE IT!

Now this last idea is SO CUTE!!!

Bekah made a shadow box using a couple Lawn Fawn stamp sets, Winter Skies and Upon a Star.. LOOK HOW ADORABLE THIS IS!!!

We offer FREE DEMOS on Wednesdays from Noon to 1pm! Come Join the fun! No need to sign up, just stop by and see what we're doing!

See you for next demo on Wednesday, September 26th while we explore the world of Vellum Overlays!

<<Previous

Tuesday with Wendy, April 2nd

Fabric Fun!!

Tuesday with Wendy, March 19th

HOLY MOLY New, New, New!!!!!

Tuesday with Wendy, March 5th

Tuesday with Wendy, February 19th

Translucent Papers, Ideas and More!

Tuesday with Wendy, Jan 22

Embossing Powders, New Ideas!!

Life Changing Blending Brushes

New Year, NEW STUFF!!

Tuesday with Wendy, Dec 4th

Paper Lanterns!!

Tuesday with Wendy, Nov 20th

Tuesday with Wendy, Nov 6th

Mail Art Fun!

Stationery, DIY and Gift Idea!

Tuesday with Wendy, Oct 23rd

Tuesday with Wendy, Oct 2nd

No-Line Watercolors

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