PLEASE NOTE:  I am experiencing technical difficulties; the last portion of the blog is cutting off for some unknown reason. Thanks for your patience.

Peggy, I'm back! and I have loads to share!

Did you know that Magenta and Impression Obsession are both open catalog companies right now? The new stamps from Magenta have become quite popular and the orders are coming in, so you might want to stop in and take a look at what they've just released!



Delivered to the store yesterday . . . the new Washi Shape 'N Tape Sheets from Lifestyle Crafts. There are 5 sheets in each color package; the sheets are 6" x 12". I hope all of the colors are shown here; the blog server has been acting up a little with my pics tonight.

This is the backside of the packaging that
shows you how nicely these will work in your
die-cutting machines.

 I have more to show you from Lifestyle Crafts later this week.

From Hero Arts . . .

More Resources Tip: Use a ruler as a guide when tearing book paper for a more uniform tear. Freehand tear for an uneven look.

Shabby Chic Hearts  By Tami Hartley Featured Product: AC022 Friend Collage Hero Materials: CH114 Little Clothespins CH136 Small Accent Pearl CH137 Medium Accent Pearl AC022 Friend Collage CL586 XO CL660 Tape Your Message DI057 Layered Hearts DI058 Large Tag AF223 Tide Pool AF226 Soft Granite AF242 Soft Cantaloupe Shadow Ink PS566 Snow Folded Cards PS627 Kraft Paper Additional Materials: vintage book text, 1/4" white silk ribbon (May Arts), baker's twine (The Twinery), Picket Fence Distress Stain (Ranger), light pink acrylic paint, gray marker (Zig), foam dots  Instructions: Tear a piece of vintage book paper slightly smaller than notecard front. Paint paper with pink acrylic paint, letting some text show through. Stamp flourish in corner with Soft Granite ink. Adhere to Snow notecard. Die cut tag from kraft paper. Trim a bit from end of tag to make it smaller. Stamp "XOXO" repeatedly with Soft Granite Ink to cover tag. Stamp blank label with Soft Granite ink onto Snow paper. Cut out and adhere to tag. Apply Tide Pool and Soft Cantaloupe inks directly to two scraps of book paper. Add dots of Picket Fence Distress Stain over top. Die cut a heart from each piece and glue to tag as shown. Tie silk ribbon through tag hole. Set aside. Stamp "love" with Soft Granite ink onto a small tag hand cut from Snow paper. Write "you" with a gray marker underneath. Tie twine around card front. Add small tag and clothespin to larger tag. Mount to card with pop dots. Embellish card with pearls.

From Els at Elizabeth Craft Designs . . . 

by Els for Elizabeth Craft Designs

"I cut 1 inch and 1/2 inch strips from our 5 x 11 Double Sided Adhesive Sheets and just started to stick them down, added the Silk Microfine glitter, polished and added another strip. At the end I did add a flower that I made using our Flower Dies and cut the pieces from the Velvet XL Self Adhesive Sheets, Shimmer Sheetz and Card stock. I should have been doing other things but this was more fun!"


We had so much fun in Sunday's "Graphic 45's Bird Song Calendar" class at the store. My personal thanks to Sam, Marilyn, Gail, Callie, Alissa and Susie for their enthusiasm and appreciation. A couple of supply questions came about that I'll answer here.

• The Graphic 45 8x8 Easel Album that we used is available; I will be ordering more next month and if you want one reserved for you, please let the store know. They are $6.75 plus tax.
• The mini-file folder punch that I used is from McGill . . . Pocket Folder 68100. If Dianne is able to find a source, we are ordering one for Susie; if you'd like to order the punch, please call the store at 360.357.6820.
• The Graphic 45 Bird Song foam-mount cling stamps are available at Art 'n Soul right now; 2 each of the 3 designs were at the store yesterday afternoon. They are $11.25 plus tax each. These particular designs stamp beautifully!

Cling Stamp Bird Song 1

Cling Stamp Bird Song 2

Cling Stamp Bird Song 3

These are pics of the calendar we made; the  months are not in sequential order.

by Debbie Gaetz for Bird Song Calendar Class at Art 'n Soul
The Front Cover of the Easel Board

by Debbie Gaetz for Bird Song Calendar Class at Art 'n Soul
The Back Cover of the Easel Board

by Debbie Gaetz for Bird Song Calendar Class at Art 'n Soul
This shows the Graphic 45 Easel Album used as the
base for the Bird Song Calendar.

by Debbie Gaetz for Bird Song Calendar Class at Art 'n Soul

by Debbie Gaetz for Bird Song Calendar Class at Art 'n Soul

by Debbie Gaetz for Bird Song Calendar Class at Art 'n Soul

by Debbie Gaetz for Bird Song Calendar Class at Art 'n Soul

by Debbie Gaetz for Bird Song Calendar Class at Art 'n Soul

by Debbie Gaetz for Bird Song Calendar Class at Art 'n Soul

by Debbie Gaetz for Bird Song Calendar Class at Art 'n Soul

by Debbie Gaetz for Bird Song Calendar Class at Art 'n Soul

by Debbie Gaetz for Bird Song Calendar Class at Art 'n Soul

by Debbie Gaetz for Bird Song Calendar Class at Art 'n Soul

by Debbie Gaetz for Bird Song Calendar Class at Art 'n Soul

by Debbie Gaetz for Bird Song Calendar Class at Art 'n Soul

by Debbie Gaetz for Bird Song Calendar Class at Art 'n Soul
This is one side of the "art journal" page

by Debbie Gaetz for Bird Song Calendar Class at Art 'n Soul
This is the other side of the "art journal" page

My ha-ha's for the day . . .

Recycled Rubber is this weekend . . . please bring in your gently used rubber stamps and other art supplies by Wednesday of this week so they can be included in the bargain sale of the month. This Saturday, February 2, Recycled Rubber begins at 10:00 a.m. and continues into Sunday, February 3.

And by the way, these are your last few days for the 40% off all Christmas papers, ribbons and embellishments. The last day is Thursday, January 31, and it will disappear from the store on Friday.

That's all for now . . . more tomorrow, I promise!