A Snowy Wintry Forest Scene

Tags, tags and another tag!  I had fun creating this wintry scene tag and the birch trees die and the deer trio from Impression Obsession were perfect for the task. 

I used distress ink and copics to add color and stickles put the finishing sparkly touch to the project!

Get into the fun and create some tags!
Have a wonderful day!
        ~Anna

Supplies used:
Dies:  Impression Obsession Birch trees (comes with 2 birds), Impression Obsession Deer trio
Embossing folder:  Sizzix
Copics:  Cool grays, browns, reds
Distress ink:  Antique linen
Other:  Nellie Snellen Duo punch of tiny flower & butterfly, stickles

Cards from the "To Distress or Not" Class

First I would like to thank everyone who came to the class and helped make it such a success!  We created, caught up with news and laughed all afternoon.  What more could we have asked for?  Too bad that Korkie and Jan weren't feeling well and did not make the trip up.  We missed you both!   I also have to say that I missed Jan's cute British accent.  Hope you are feeling better and looking forward to see you soon!

I also want to thank Barbara for teaching and bringing the vintage and distress look to us again.  You really made everyone think outside the box!

Here are the cards we made:

These are the 3 cards with the distressed look.

And these are the non-distressed cards (I guess we can call  them the clean cards).

Next, are pictures of the cards side by side.  We basically used the same design layout and the same supplies, and came up with two different looks!  It was just amazing!

Hope these samples get your creative juices flowing!

Thanks for stopping by!
         ~Anna

To Distress or Not - That is the Question!

This past Saturday we had our Make and Take Day and everyone loved making the following Cameo Card.  The ladies really liked the old fashion and feminine look of the cameo.

Barbara Thomas joined us and she too created a card for her Mom, but Barbara had to change it up a bit of course with her favorite Tim Holtz distress inks!  And here is her creation:

I just love it!  And so did everyone else!  

Of course I have distress inks and never think of distressing my work; and Barbara, ALWAYS distresses hers!  I guess we just get comfortable in our own way. 

Awhile back, Barbara and I teamed up and offered a fun class class, called "To Distress or Not" and we decided to do it again!  This time we'll use more dies and some new stamps!!!  You'll create 6 cards; 3 "clean" cards designed by me and 3 other cards designed by Barbara using distress inks!  Both sets of cards will use the SAME stamps, dies and supplies, but you will get TWO different looks!

This great class is scheduled for Saturday, June 8 at 11AM!  Join the fun and learn how to stretch your supplies and get two different styles!  Call or email to reserve your seat today.......this class was very popular last time and filled up quickly!

Oh yes, if you take the class, you will be able to buy the stamps and dies used for the cards at a 10% discount!  

Looking forward to hearing from you soon!
            ~Anna

Pretty Thanksgiving Day Card from Soni Larson

Hope you had a very nice Thanksgiving!  I had a very lovely one and Soni presented me with this very pretty card.

She used the great leaf set from JustRite Stamps and distress inks to color them.  The layout is so clean and simple, yet very elegant!

Hope you are enjoying the weekend and remember to support your favorite small businesses today, on Shop Small Day!
      ~Anna

Thanksgiving is almost here!

Thanksgiving is almost here and I have to say that I am very pleased with my new card.

I just love the beautiful die from Marianne called Anja's Large Oval, LR0236.  I love the shape and the lattice. The die cut so easily; no problems there!

The fall flowers were made with the Cheery Lynn Build a Flower set #1 and the leaves were made with Cheery Lynn, Olive Branches and Mini Fanciful Flourish. 

The finishing touches were added with a bronze pearl pen from Viva Decor.

 Here, you can see all of the different parts of the Anja's Large Oval die..............simply gorgeous.........and with so many possibilities.

Just imagine using the same lay out and just changing the colors to Christmas red and green!  (You can use these flowers or poinsettias.)  It would make a stunning Christmas card!!!  I'm going to have to try it myself!

Call and let me know if you would like any of these dies!  They are going like hot cakes now, especially ever since the sample was seen in real life!

Thanks for "stamping" by,
       ~Anna

Upcoming Great Classes with Jan Randolph

I am happy to announce the following great classes with Jan Randolph.

First, Colors of Distress Inks, a great introduction to distress inks where you will learn several techniques in how to use these inks and ink pads.  And here is a sample of the cards you will make in this class.  It will be offered twice:  Friday, October 12 at 1PM and on Saturday, October 20 at 11AM.

In November, Jan will have a fabulous class, Fun with Acetate and create the cards below:

Here you will make beautiful backgrounds with inks and Impression Obsession stamps and then stamp the acetate and put the card together.  These cards of course look so much better in real life!  Believe me, you will not be disappointed!  And as a bonus, you'll even create a tag!!!  This class will be offered on Friday, November 16 at 1PM and on Saturday, November 17 at 11AM.

And in December, you'll still get a chance to join Jan and make Christmas cards!  These cards are made with Impression Obsession background stamps and are quick and easy, yet very pretty!!!

Sign up today for Saturday, December 8 at 11AM.  Perfect time for those last minute Christmas cards!

(Remember, you can click on any picture and see an enlarged version.)

Looking forward to hearing from you soon,
                 ~Anna

Limited Edition, Summer Distress Ink Pads Have Arrived!

Yes, you heard it here!!!  The Limited Edition, TIm Holtz Summer Distress ink pads are here!!!  The colors are so pretty and they go so well with the Spring colors.

The cool summer shades are:  Picked Raspberry, Mowed Lawn and Salty Ocean.








 



 And the yummy spring colors are:  Peacock Feathers, Squeezed Lemonade and Shaded Lilac. 







Look at these fabulous tags made by Dyan from Art from the Heart!

Dyan used both the spring and summer distress colors.   I can't get over how pretty these colors look together; a great color palette.  These tags are simply awesome!!!


Looking forward to see what you'll create! 
So stop by and pick up your pads today, before they are all gone!

Pretty Birdhouse Shaped Card

It's May and this Saturday is the first Saturday of the month; which means it's Make & Take Saturday!  Join us and you too will be able to create this pretty birdhouse card that says, "There's no place like home."

You will use the latest stamps and die from Impression Obsession.  Add the Tim Holtz embossing folder, some distress inks, some colored pencils or Copics, Viva Decor Pearl Pens and stickles for embellishments and you'll have a unique card!

Now these house shaped cards are so awesome because they can be used for so many occasions!  Just think, "Good Luck in your New Home", We've Moved" or what about using the door and window dies (also from I/O) and create a "Christmas Front Door"!  The possibilities are endless!

Looking forward to seeing you Saturday for this fun project!
                                    ~Anna

You're a Classic Type of Girl!

I really like the way this card turned out.  I know it's very girly, but it's perfect for our girlfriends!

I colored the girl from the Hero Arts Enchante set with my Copics and layered it on a Tim Holtz die that I stamped with the Hero Arts Newspaper Eiffel Tower stamp.  I just love that background stamp.  The saying is from Impression Obsession.

I used these stamps on different cards.  You can see the girls used HERE and you can see the background stamp also used HERE.  It always nice to get a bigger bang for your buck by getting multiple uses out of your stamps and supplies. 

Thanks for "stamping" by,
         ~Anna

Newspaper Print Images Make it Big this Year

Newspaper print is seen all over the paper crafting world this season.  It is being used in background stamps as well as inside images.  I made two cards today using such stamps from Hero Arts.

This newsprint owl is so very appealing and it is appropriately named, "Big Eyes".  I stamped it in black on kraft card stock and added more color for depth with distress inks (brushed corduroy & vintage photo).

The Tim Holtz  wood grain embossing folder made a perfect background.  I'm also hooked on making the neat looking roses with the Cheery Lynn Cuties dies, so I had to add one to the branch.  It made me think of spring; I therefore found a saying to go along. 

I've seen "Big Eyes" made in different colors; I want to try that next.  I think it will be lots of fun.

 For the second card, I used "Newspaper Eiffel Tower", also by Hero Arts.  Not only is the newsprint popular, but it seems like every stamp company released Eiffel Tower stamps this year.  I paired the white embossed background stamp with the butterfly thank you stamp from the "Greetings" set.  I colored the butterfly with Copics and layered a second butterfly over the image and raised the wings.  (Both butterflies are colored.)  I also distressed the cream card stock with Antique Linen.  I think the romantic in me is daydreaming and enjoying Paris!

Stay warm and think spring........it'll be here soon!
              ~Anna

New Cheery Lynn Spiral Flowers

I received the new Cheery Lynn Cuties 2 die and couldn't wait to try it out.

The spiral flowers turn out so dainty and once you get the hang of rolling them and stop worrying about all the glue you get on your fingers, the rest is a piece of cake!

Besides the Cuties 2 die, I used a leaf punch, the multi-square frame die from Nellie Snellen (MFD006), Marianne Creatables LR0157 and Tim Holtz's rosette die.  I also used some distress ink to give the rosette some depth and cover the white core of the printed paper and age the cream card.

All in all it was fun creating something new!

The Limited Edition Distress Ink Pads

Hi Everyone,  Just wanted to let you know that the Limited Edition Winter Distress Ink Pads have arrived at the Creative Corner!

The three colors are:  Evergreen Bough (a beautiful green with a hint of blue), Festive Berries (a true Christmas red), and Iced Spruce (an incredible greyish blue).

Those of you who have pre-ordered a set, they are ready for pick up.
And don't worry, there are still several sets left for anyone else; so hurry in before they are gone!

Also, check out Tim Holtz's blog!  He even has a video on there showing you more ideas using these great colors!

Project Runway .......?

Hello Everyone, 
Here's another card I completed using the Hero Arts set, Sew Artsy (CL446).  I'm having lots of fun adding the thread to the bobbin and this time I added May Arts ribbon around the oval that I cut out with a Spellbinders Nestie.  The ribbon is already gathered, so all you have to do is adhere it to your card stock for a very pretty,  fabric looking border.

To age the card stock, I used distress inks; for the background, I used the Hero Arts Lace Background stamp (S5341).

Perfect for one of your sewing buddies or any friend who is into fashion!
Need cards or ideas, check out the calendar for upcoming classes.  There is something for everyone!

Have a wonderful day,
and
Happy Stamping,
Anna

Sewing Room Canvas

As you know, Barbara Thomas loves to take Tim Holtz's classes and this past March when we were in Boston, she took 4 with him!  She made wonderful, artistic, collage canvases that make perfect wall decorations.

Here is the Sewing Room Theme canvas and you will be able to make one in Barbara's class, on Saturday, August 27th!

It uses the Tim Holtz sewing room die set as well as Tim's new tissue tape and lots of embellishments.
Now, isn't it just so clever that you use part of Tim's birdcage die to create the skirt on the dress form?  There you have it,  another use for that die!  I just love it when we can use our dies or stamps in different, imaginative ways!

Call the shop to reserve your seat!

Thanks for stopping by and
Happy Stamping,
Anna

Handmade Flower Embellishments

Today was a fun and creative day, as I completed 2 of the cards for the Flower Embellishments class that will be held on Saturday, June 25th, and also on Thursday, July 7th.

You will have fun learning how to make these handmade flowers for your cards.

This rose is really pretty and is made from 4 flowers cut from a die.

This flower is made from scalloped circles, also cut from a die, and made from printed vellum.  The button for the center of the flower is so cute.  It is also cut from a Joy Crafts die.

Hope you'll join this fun and creative class.
Anna

Cupcake Cards

I had so much fun making these cards for the "It's All About Cupcakes" class. 
They're fun, easy and great for so many occasions!

The class will be repeated on Saturday, May 21 and you'll be able to play with peel off stickers, snow white Flower Soft, and even distress inks. 

Just call and let me know if you would like to join the fun!
Anna

Sneak Peek of Saturday's Class

 Here's a sneak peek of another Wedding card for the class on Saturday! 

Hint:  You'll be using distress inks, watercolor paper and shimmer spritz!

And for the 4th card...........the only thing I can tell you is that you will be using a stamp of a  beautiful castle and swans,  in honor of Will's and Kate's Wedding!

(You can click here and here to see other samples for the class)

This should get your curiosity going! 
Hope you'll join the fun,
Anna

Bicycle Make & Take on the 12th!

Bicycles are the rage right now and so here's the neat, quick Make & Take you can create on the 12th! You'll use the Hero Arts Bicycle stamp set and the envelope pattern background, A Muse saying, distress inks, a red marker and a few crystals. It's a great unisex card!

See you soon,
Anna

More than just a card.......

I have stumbled upon Elly's blog and have been inspired by her work. Elly is from the Netherlands and she has a wonderful blog! Check it out and see the unique and beautiful cards she makes!

Elly created a really pretty "Book Card" and this is my version of it.

I used Impression Obsession stamps and the new Nellie Snellen cutting dies. I just love that circle "doily"; it is so delicate and goes with the border die.

The swirls are from the Creatables die set.

I used Memory Box printed paper as well as distress inks to decorate the front and inside.

Here is the inside of the "book". The walls are made by accordion folding the card stock and decorating the edge with the border die.

This little book/box is so versatile.........you can fill it with chocolates (as I did below) for your Valentine OR put a picture inside and it will look like a frame, ready for someone's birthday or Mother's Day! I am sure that you will come up with lots of uses for it!

These are the new dies that I used to create the sample.

This will be a class in the near future!!! I am sure that many of you will love it!

Also, keep a look out on the calendar, as the flower cards will also be a class!

Happy Stamping!
Anna