Did you know that Ecstasy Crafts is open catalog right now? These are the folks we order those beautiful dies from, i.e., Cheery Lynn, Marianne Designables, Nellie Snellen, etc. If you're looking for some beautiful dies, you'll want to look at these. Dianne has done a superb job in organizing their catalog so you can easily select your favorites.




Memory Box has started a new Project of the Month that I've chosen to participate in. And here's the first one . . .

Deb and Dianne will be doing "Make & Takes" using Memory Box dies and card stock from February 1 thru February 14 (except Saturday, Feb. 4). The cost is $1 for each 'Make & Take'; OR a non-perishable food item for the Food Bank barrel for each "Make & Take". Come in anytime during those days except for Saturday, February 4, which is our Recycled Rubber Saturday.




Look at this last-minute project using Shimmer Sheetz by Els at Elizabeth Craft Designs . . . how much fun would this be to make! I see this in our future at Art 'n Soul!

by Els for Elizabeth Craft Designs

"This notebook has been waiting to be decorated with Shimmer Sheetz for a while so why not do it when you have one day left before CHA and have a thousand other things to do:)??"  --Els

"This notebook has been waiting to be decorated with Shimmer Sheetz for a while so why not do it when you have one day left before CHA and have a thousand other things to do:)??"  --Els

From Karen Lockhart's website . . .

Dear Friends, New Guest Artist We are very happy to introduce you to our latest Guest Artist, Sharon Harnist.  Sharon was first introduced to rubber stamping in 2004.  It didn't take long before she became a demonstrator and instructor of rubber stamping, cardmaking and scrapbooking.  She has been designing for Karen since 2007.  She uses lots of Karen's stamp images on her blog, www.PaperFections.com.  Sharon is also a member of the Copic Marker design and instruction team. For this project, she describes her blending techniques using Copic markers to create a set of wonderful refrigerator magnets.  To learn more about Sharon and her refrigerator magnets, please go to our website (Guest Artist). Perfect Cherries magnet Lemons and Bay Leaves magnet Okie Dokie Artichokie magnet Perfect Berries magnet

From Outlines Rubber Stamp Company  . . .

Cards by Jenny Gropp
	All of these cards feature printed-paper from Bo Bunny’s: Smoochable 6x6 paper pad. All images are stamped on Neenah Classic Crest Natural White with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.
	CARD 1 Stamps: H-911 Sparkle Love
	Stamp the image on Neenah Classic Natural White (ivory) using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I colored the image using Copic Markers. I tried to choose colors that were a close match to the paper.Copic Markers: YG 11, 17 V 12, 15, 17 R 81,83, 85
	After coloring, I added a small brown mat to the image. I used a piercer and a template to add piercings in each corner.
	I wanted the stripes to be going vertically and horizontally for the next layer. I added this layer first, cutting it right to the brown edge on the right and left side.
	You can see here, how I turned the paper to align the stripes in a different direction. I did the same on the left side.
	Create the card base as shown, using brown card stock. I lined the inside with ivory card stock. The front flap is about two inches shy of the back flap when it is closed.
	I used foam tape to adhere the image to the front flap. I used Ultimate Glue to add a green button along the side.
	I used Ultimate Glue again to add a fluffy bow on top of the button. It dries clear, so no worries if a little glue peeks out.
	I used Viva Pearl Pens  (Green and Violet) to add pearl embellishments.
	Using Picksey Pick Ups and Glossy Accents, I added a little sparkle to the dragonfly wings. Clear Crystals  - Size 7
	Here is the finished card. You can see the image overlaps the front flap of the card.
	CARD 2 Stamps: H-917 Heart Vine B-1055 Script Love You
	Stamp the images on Neenah Classic Crest Natural White, using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Stamp extra heart pieces using printed-paper from the pad and two of them on Neenah paper to be colored. You can see the Copics that I used to color the heart vine.Copic Markers: YG 11, 17 V 12, 15, 17 R 81,83, 85
	Create the card base with folded ivory card stock. Add strips of printed-paper on the left and right side. Cut out the heart vine flowing along the curves of the stamp on the right and left side.
	Add the image to the front of the card, popping it up with foam tape. Add a band of ribbon and bow to the left side of the card.
	Add the additional hearts, using foam tape for dimension under some of the layers.
	Use Viva Pearl Pens to embellish the image. Pearl Pens – Cream, Green and Lilac. Use Picksey Pick Ups and add a few Light Rose Crystals to the flower centers.
	Stamp the sentiment along the edge of a strip of printed-paper and add it to the inside of the card.
	Here is a picture of the finished card.
	CARD 3 Stamps: H-1006 Hanging Heart
	Use the Spellbinder’s Grand Labels 23 to create the card base. Cutting the folded piece of paper by keeping the fold line just shy of the cut line on the die. Using the same size die, cut a piece of the paisley paper.
	Adhere the paisley layer on to the card front. Stamp the image and cut it out using a smaller die. Use a Copic to add the brown edging. I also airbrushed the pink color.Copic Markers: E 47 R 85
	Stamp additional heart pieces and cut out different sizes of the heart layers. Here are the Copic Markers that I used to color the image. Again, I chose colors based on the colors in the printed papers.Copic Markers: YG 11, 17 V 12, 15 R 85
	Add the heart layers, some flat and some popped up using foam tape.
	I added AB Crystals (Size 7) around the heart edge.
	Additional embellishing with Viva Pens: Glassy Effects on the flower center. Green small pearls along the vine. In the center of the flowers I used the Glass Effects Pen to add a clear glaze. Lilac and Cream Pearl Pens for the Hearts.
	I added a bow and a ribbon band in the opposite corner to finish the card.

I'm off to CHA in Anaheim for their Winter Show. I'll be meeting up with Helene from Magenta tomorrow afternoon. We're looking forward to seeing John Petersen from Tsukineko and Imagine Crafts, as well as our dear friend Kazuko!

I'm so anxious to see what's going to be introduced and making some good contacts for specialty papers. The paper companies that we do business with, i.e., Graphic 45, Webster's Pages, Basic Grey, Hero Arts, SEI, Kaisercraft, Pink Paislee, My Mind's Eye, et al., are on my list, as well as looking at what some of the other paper suppliers are offering, as well as May Arts to see what they have coming up in ribbons. I'm looking forward to seeing the new Spellbinder dies, and meeting the folks at Cheery Lynn and Ecstasy Crafts. And I plan to have lots of fun at Tsukineko's booth  . . . that's where we're going to see John and Kazuko whipping up some fabulous demos. And then I'm going to take one of Gwen's classes for Earth Art International on Tuesday morning. I'm hoping to have lots to share and lots of photos, so be sure to check in.

If there's something specific that you've heard about and would like me to check it out, please email the store at artnsoul@artnsoul.comcastbiz.net or me at debbie.g@bellacarta.comcastbiz.net because I'd love to look for you!

Until tomorrow night . . .