The Memory Box Make-n-Takes start tomorrow at the store. Every day until the 18th, come on in and look at this month's Color of the Month and Project of the Month cards from Memory Box. For a donation of a non-perishable food item to the Food Bank Barrel or $1 per card, you can try the latest Memory Box dies and colors.

From Els on Elizabeth Craft Designs' blog . . .
"Worked on some pieces of Bronze Metallic, Fire Opal Gemstone and Yellow Iris Shimmer Sheetz for the Shimmer Sheetz class at the Collins show event. We are going to 'patchwork' with Shimmer Sheetz and these are just a few pieces I am going to cut up for that class and they will go into my patchwork treasurebox:)!"

A "patchwork treasure box" for my Shimmer Sheetz? Fabulous idea!




Susie stopped by the store this afternoon to share these latest samples from her playground of dies . . .

by Susie Tracy

Dies:  Cheery Lynn (Door, Screen & Cat) (Rose Blossom)
Die:  MemoryBox Die (Vine)
Stamps:  Savvy (Chandelier); Kodomo (Tranquility);
Rubber Monger (Chair/part of a larger image)

by Susie Tracy

Die:  Cheery Lynn (Dutch Scalloped Frame) -- die cut was embossed
Pearls on frame from Pearl Pen
Stamp:  Impression Obsession (stamped with Colorbox Frost White;
colored with white Prismacolor pencil using shade technique
on black Stonehenge paper)

From Tsukineko's FaceBook page today:


"We'd like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our customers for your support and understanding during the temporary Out of Stock status of some of our Memento full-size inkpads (and a few StazOn colors). As many of you are aware, the shortage was due to the catastrophic - and extended floods in Thailand late last fall, where one of the components is manufacturerd. The good news is that production is in full swing to get them shipped into the USA...and when they arrive, we'll do our best to get them on their way to you as soon as humanly possible."

We've fielded questions about our latest Tsukineko order and this explains the delivery problem. As we all know, you can't fight Mother Nature. We appreciate the update from Tsukineko USA and the fact that production has resumed!




From Dreamweaver Stencils' blog  . . .

"This month we are challenging our readers to Go Green or Go Braugh in celebration of the upcoming month of March. Today I have taken a very organic spin on this challenge. The first card uses two different versions of the monstera leaf stencil. LG 641 is an open cut stencil that is just a cut out of the leaf's shape and LG 706 is the shape of the stencil with the swiss cheeselike holes to give the design that authentic monstera shape. Why do they call this leaf Monstera?...well, like it's name it is huge and the vase stencil (LG707) here is dwarfed by the leaves on the card, but I love to do the faux cloisonné technique and that was done on the vase to give it that ceramic look. If you are interested in knowing more about that technique email me at lynell@dreamweaverstencils.com and I would be happy to email you the faux cloisonné instructions. 

The second card I am showing you today is a technique called "strié" and couldn't be simpler to do. Here the leaf stencil (LG642) at the bottom of the card was stenciled three times, one on top of the other, the last one a bit darker than the first two. Then the leaves at the top draping down was dry embossed with a stylus. The stencil was then removed and using a large brush I pulled pigment ink across the embossed design. The small thank you (LG691) was done the same way. This is one of my favorite techniques and if you enjoy dry embossing it is a very effective yet simple way to colorize your creation."
















From Heartfelt Creations' blog, I thought these three card samples in particular were stunning . . .

Products Used on This ProjectHCPC 3450 Cross and Lilies Precut Set  HCPC 3443 Palace Entry Precut Set  HCD 718 Decorative Chateau Gate Precut Set  Labels 17 Mega Die Grand Calibur Zip Dry Glue  Other: Ranger Distress Ink Walnut Stain, Tea Stain, Copic E00 Marker, Bazzill cardstock, Kraft paper, Glossy cardstock inked with Tea Leaves Memento Ink, My Mind's Eye 6x6 pad Paris & Co., Glossy cardstock inked with green Memento ink, Button, Zots Dimensional Glue Dots, Lace "Directions:  Begin with Blue A2 Card Base.  Stamp Kraft cardstock with filagree image (Walnut Stain) and color leaves with E00 Copic marker.  Distress paper with tea stain and applicator sponge then curl edges with fingers.  Create front panel by layering patterned paper and stamped/distressed filagree paper.  Wrap this panel with lace.   Stamp sentiment onto cream cardstock with Walnut Stain ink and cut/emboss using Spellbinders die.  Distress with Tea Stain.  Apply sentiment to cardfront using dimensional glue dots.  Apply button and cut three viney leaves from HC diecut then layer under button." CREATED BY: KERRY URBATCH

Products Used on This Project  HCPC 3455 Butterfly and Lilies PreCut Set HCD 716 Layered Elegant Swirl Die  Other Products Used: Copic Markers: R00, R20, YG61, YG63, E41, E42, BG70, BG72, Petite Ovals and Labels 20 Spellbinder Dies, Organic Cuttlebug Embossing Borders "Directions: Cut a piece of cream cardstock 5 1/2" x 8 1/2".  Lay the two smaller elegant swirl dies on the edge of the cream cardstock.  Cut out the swirls and cut to the end of the paper and cut up the center.  Take the scallop die and make a scallop between the two swirls.  (This won't show once the image is adhered to the card).  Emboss the borders twice above the swirl edge.  Tie the peach seam binding over the card.  Fold the card in half.  Cut a piece of peach cardstock 4" x 5 1/4" and adhere behind the card front.  Stamp the scroll and candles onto cream cardstock and cut down the sides of the candles.  Place the oval die over the image but have the candles over the die. That way the candles will not be cut off.  Remove die and color the image with Copic Markers.   Cut out the Labels 20 out of peach cardstock.  Pop the Labels 20 onto the card and then pop up the image over the peach Label." CREATED BY: HEIDI ERICKSON

Products Used on This Project  HCD 719 Cross and Lilies Die  HCPC 3453 Malabar Clematis Precut Set  472168 Label 20 Mega Nestabilities 159723 Dries Clear Glue  Other Supplies: Recollections Cardstock, Bo Bunny Patterned Paper, Ranger Liquid Pearls, Stazon Ink, Recollections Pearls, Primacolor Pencils, Ribbon, Spellbinders Grand Calibur, Cricut, Cats Eye Chalk, Tim Holtz Distressing Tool, Recollections Pop Dots, Microsoft Word for Mac. "Instructions: Using Cricut cut out base of card 4.5 inches in white cardstock, 4 inches in yellow cardstock and 3.5 inches in patterned paper. Die cut “Labels 20” and added liquid pearls to it and also on the yellow cardstock. Let dry. Die cut out “Cross and Lilies Die twice, one in yellow and one in white. Cut off edges of the white and run though cuttlebug embossing machine. Die cut spellbinders tag and using Microsoft word print title on it. Layer pieces over each other using pop dots in between. Stamp “Malabar Clematis” 2nd largest and next size smaller times 2, Die cut with “Cross and Lilies” color with pencils centers and add pearls. Place more pop dots behind the flowers. Add thin ribbon under tag." CREATED BY: LISA BLASTICK

That's all for tonight. Tomorrow I'm going on retreat to Poulsbo but I will be posting onto the blog from there; I just have to find a Starbucks so I can use their wi-fi! This week should be lots of fun at Art 'n Soul because we're expecting more deliveries, especially a big one from Notions on Tuesday!


Our thanks to everyone who stopped by the store over the weekend to participate in Recycled Rubber . . . it was, indeed, our best one of the year! Your business, patronage and loyal friendships are so appreciated . . . that's why we're still here!