Please be sure to scroll past the 2015 Northwest Paper Chase Information for today's blog post! Thank you.

This is Art 'n Soul's 'take 'n make' for the Northwest Paper Chase this year; the theme is "Games" and we chose the game of marbles. In the 'take 'n make' kit, each Paper Chaser who spends $10 (pre-tax, post discounts) will receive this kit to take home . . . 5 puzzle pieces to a Marble Puzzle, a real glass marble, and the 6x6 paper from Authentique (one of the 2015 NWPC sponsors). As marbles roll, we hope they'll "roll" their script around the page to describe their experience at Art 'n Soul; there's even room for a photo above the stamped sentiment and they can place the marble puzzle pieces anywhere they want.

Art 'n Soul's game is 'marbles.' In each take-'n-make pak, there are 5 pieces to a puzzle. If anyone finds that at least 3 of their 5 puzzle pieces actually fit together like they should, that person earns a free 6x6 paper pad from Authentique, one of the NWPC sponsors. Here's a photo of the marble puzzle . . .

And with a minimum $20 pre-tax, post-discount purchase with the NWPC Passport, chasers receive this charm. Does anyone remember rolling their glass marbles along anything they could find to use as a track?

Art 'n Soul's 2015 Northwest Paper Chase Collectible Charm

For today . . .

I couldn't stand it any longer. I faithfully stayed at my work desk all day and after dinner to clear out the stack of mounting mail and print-outs, as well as researching orders for the store. I took out some of my new Impression Obsession stamps, Radiant Neon inks and the new Radiant Neon Amplify! and played.

I started with a white piece of card stock and stamped IO's Ink Splatter (J17029) with Electric Pink. 

Then I alternately layered the following IO stamps and inks in a random fashion.

• IO Paint Splatter (F17030) in Electric Purple
• IO Plat 2 (D13336) in Electric Blue
• IO Splat 1 (D13335) in Electric Green
• IO Splat 3 (D13337) in Electric Yellow
• IO Brushstroke 2 (C13287) in Electric Coral (twice)
• IO Liner Brushes (D13314) in Memento London Fog
•  IO Art (C13278) in VersaMark and heat embossed with black embossing powder after making sure everything below was completely dry

I went over the left Brushstroke 2 image with the Amplify! in Electric Coral, and added Amplify! in Black randomly in a few spots and along the left side of the card in short squiggly lines. The Amplify! was then heat set to make it 'grow'; once set, when you press on it the Amplify! bounces back to its original dimension.

by Debbie Gaetz

It's not perfect but it was fun to do. Perhaps I'll send a payment inside the card for the heck of it.

So then, after dinner, I worked a little more with the Amplify! in Electric Coral. This time, I put a big drop onto my craft mat and sprayed a little of the Tangelo Fireworks! into it, and then spread it out with my finger. Then I put my stamp into it and used it as my ink, applying it immediately to the prepared die-cut circle. I immediately wiped the stamp off with a wet rag I had at-the-ready. Using the heat gun, I applied the heat and watched the Amplify! raise up and an almost indiscernible bit of texture appearing in the recessed areas of the stamp design. After it was dry, I stamped the sentiment with Memento in Morocco and put a scattered line of the Pico Embellishment in Coral to give 'ground' to the stamped word.

by Debbie Gaetz

enlargement of stamped area
to show the raised Amplify!

I've worked with a similar product and I can tell you that Amplify! is much easier to work with and comes in the colors to match the Radiant Neons!

• Stamps:  Magenta Heart Burst (42.237.H); Magenta Dream (07.933.D)
• Embossing Folder:  Sizzix
• Dies:  Spellbinder (circle); Memory Box (Curled Ribbons 98936)
• Inks:  Memento in Tuxedo Black and Morocco; Brilliance in Pearlescent Coral; Delicata in Golden Flitz; Amplify! in Electric Coral; Fireworks! in Tangelo; Pico Embellisher in Coral.
• Paper:  Heavyweight clear vellum (card top panel and embossed); Conqueror 118 lb. in Diamond White (card base); Classic Crest 80 lb. in Solar White (circle die-cut; Brilliance and Delicate inks applied with sponge dauber); SEI Mia Bella card stock (ribbon die-cuts) with Ken Oliver Crafts' StickIt! double-sided adhesive for die cutting

*What's nice about the heavyweight vellum is adhesive tape can be applied on the backside and it doesn't show through.



On the May Arts blog, Karen Baker has made a very simple card that would be so easy to make. It's nice to have some cards in your stash that are very simple.

by Karen Baker for May Arts

Click on this link for the blog posting:

https://www.mayarts.com/may-arts-ribbon-epiphany-crafts-blog-week-day-3/

On the PoppyStamps blog, Irena has come up with an adorable Easter table decoration.

by Irena Kowalczyk for PoppyStamps

Click on this link for her detailed information:

http://poppystamps.typepad.com/poppystamps/2015/03/happy-easter-1.html

Be sure to stop in at Art 'n Soul this week, and we certainly hope you have this Friday's Play Day on your "just do it!" calendar.

Pam and Dianne will share a variety of ideas for making Shaker Cards.  These cards have become increasingly popular, and there are many things we can share that make them super easy to make, starting with Impression Obsession shaker pouches. There will be shaker card kits available for sale, or bring your own cardstock, stamps, sequins, or glitter for the inside of the card. We will be there for Shaker Card Friday from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, on 3/27/15, but you can come play all day during our regular store hours on that day. As always, you can opt to bring a different project to work on, or just come be to observe, and we'll all enjoy the creative ambience of the day! 

Suggested supplies are listed below; bring whatever you have to make shaker cards with, or you can purchase a kit to make a card from.

Suggested items to bring:

* cardstock and acetate

* stamps and inks such as Distress, Memento, and/or Pigment inks. 

* foam tape and/or fun foam

* strong adhesive, such as ATG or scor tape

* Things to "shake" such as sequins, glitter or beads

* Basic Kit if desired, including baby wipes.

* perhaps sentiment dies and/or shapes to cut shaker openings in your card.

We hope to see you there!  

See you soon!