Not only is today Art 'n Soul's 11th Birthday Party (from 1:00 to 4:00)! Today is the start of this month's Inspiration Station at Art 'n Soul. We're focusing on one of the new Magenta templates that each of our staff will create from.

To kick off June's Inspiration Station, Marj has created the most beautiful card. Helene was so delighted to see it on Friday and had to send a photo of it immediately to the designer back at Magenta. Marj was quite surprised at the blended colors!

by Marj Marion

• Magenta Template (TM 100)
• VersaMark ink & White Embossing Powder
• Distress Inks in Fossilized Amber, Abandoned Coral & Mermaid Lagoon
• Pearlized water spray
• Narrow silk ribbon from May Arts
• 140 lb. cold press watercolor paper

Press Distress Inks on craft sheet. Spray with pearlized water. Drag watercolor paper through the inks. Dry completely.

Press VersaMark ink through the template and the border part as well.
Sprinkle on white embossing powder and heat.
Layer as shown.
Add a double bow of narrow silk ribbon.

This card, along with others, will be on display for the remainder of the month at Art 'n Soul. It's worth the trip in to see them!

So, for the Birthday Party, please join us today from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. There are balloons to be popped -- one per person. Inside each balloon is a piece of paper noting how much of a discount you'll receive at check out during the birthday party. The discounts range from 50% (yes! we said 50%) to 10%.

To also celebrate our 11th Birthday, all 12 x 12 paper is on sale at a 25% discount AND all ribbon is on sale at a 11% discount, unless you win a higher discount coupon in a balloon.

Helene from Magenta

• Launching a new Magenta collection -- the new member of the Magenta Creative Team has created fabulous new designs!
• Demo’ing a new line of stencils we know you're going to love!
• Showcasing a Magenta trunk show
• AND demo’ing Magenta’s new powdered pigment product, Nuance!

Sandy Allnock

• Showcasing an Art Impressions trunk show that features new 'impressions' vignettes perfect for watercoloring techniques
• Demo’ing a beautiful watercolor technique using markers and Art Impressions stamps!

John Petersen from Imagine Crafts and our own Debbie Gaetz

• Demo’ing the new Imagine Crafts products that you will have to see to believe! See the new StazOn Studio Glaze, Amplify!, the Creative Mediums in the new iridescent colors, and new tools.

Sandy Jackson from SAR

• Showcasing a Hasty Lace template trunk show, featuring FABULOUS new templates that are stunning to look at; and feature quilt-like designs that can be viewed on either side, each side looking totally different!
• Demo’ing easy Hasty Lace techniques and samples

Marj Marion

• Demo’ing her unique die cutting techniques using Memory Box dies -- we all wonder how Marj creates all of those beautiful cards and you'll be able to see some of her creativity at work!

I'm going to save the continuation of the journal art for another day. It's time to start the day . . . and get on with the Party!