Monday, October 14, 2024

Happy Monday! Go Bills!

Staying inside with a warm cup of coffee and creating cards was a great weekend for me. It felt odd not to watch a Bills game on a Sunday but, we have Monday night football!!

I finally got to the store this past week and picked up a die set that I have been wanting since it was released.


Photo Play released this die set that creates adorable Nutcrackers, which seems to be one of the themes for this holiday season. There are several dies in the set so you can customize your Nutcracker. I had so much fun putting this Nutcracker together! 

Supplies used:
--PhotoPlay: Nutcrackers Layered Etched dies
--PPP: Eyelet Rectangles
--Concord & 9th: Holiday Sayings

I hope that everyone has a very crafty week!--Kim



Let's Go Bills!

That''s my rally cry since both mine and my husband's teams are in a struggle to see who has the worse record in football this season and gets the first draft pick! At least we have the Yankees in baseball. 

On to what's new. First, a little housekeeping. The store will be open regular hours today, Monday, from 10-3. Next, we've gotten in Gina K's die cutting machine the Intri-Cut (photo to follow). It's Sharon's latest pick because like her current die cut machine, it's adjustable to fit a variety of dies, embossing folders, paper's, etc.  Registration for both Maker Mania 11 and the Birthday Kickstart is open. If I think of any other announcements I'll post them at the bottom of this post, on to what's new.

On Wednesday Sharon was a little swamped playing catch-up after a week having Kaitlyn and Manny at the house. As is familiar to many of us, she didn't get a lot done with a toddler in the house! However, she did share some letterpress inspiration. Sharon used this Letterpress plate from Hero Arts for these two samples, along with Catherine Pooler ink for the blue card and a rainbow foil for the second.

She used this beautiful poinsettia plate and a gold shimmer foil for this card. I'll admit I'm a little clueless to these techniques as I don't have the letterpress attachment or the glimmer machine. 
Another sample with inks and I believe a coordinating stencil.
Sharon was excited to get in these new stamps from Lavinia and there may be a class forming in her mind very soon! I know it looks like these are all Halloween based but you can really use these for a variety of cards. Sharon's favorite ink to use with these stamps is the Versa Clair line. They give great coverage and are excellent for fine details. It's my go to for word stamps because of its clean stamping.


You can create beautiful images and cards by simply stamping on Lavinia's gorgeous paper collections as seen in the sample below.
This guy is a favorite and we've gotten him back in stock. Psst: How cute is that squirrel to the right?
These next two are too cute.

Here is Gina K's machine I just can't read Spanish?! 
Next up is a very popular line, Paper Rose. They have two winter collections and a bonus collection. We have these in 12X12 and 6X6 pads and several single sheets in the 12X12. 
Even I like these Christmas gnomes in their cut-aparts.
Some of the single sheets.






These are two sided papers and a nice weight. Here are several of the backsides.

Along with the paper sheets we have die cuts and individual cut-aparts for these collections.
This is the bonus - These are Foil papers. We only have these in the paper packs and I tried to capture how they shimmer but they are better seen in person.


Next up is a bit of whimsy from W Studio. The pads have cut outs on Washi paper, There is a stamp set and a collection of die cuts that come in a tin.



Sharon is a confirmed Copic colorer but she also likes these markers from Altenew. They come in family packs and Sharon uses the purples and yellows especially to help fill in colors she can't find in Copics.

I believe we showed these last week but they bear repeating, from Spellbinders.
New papers from AAll & Create that are tags.
Now for something a little different. These are 'robot' stamps from Creative Expressions. The artist is the same artist that did the children's stamps we've had before and are at the end of these guys who I find quite interesting.




We're almost at the end of new product with several collections from the makers of Memory Box. First are these seasonal stems, berries and flowers from Birch Press Designs. Also, a new 6x6 paper pad from Memory Box. I love these papers!
Holly sprigs and a Snowflake Joy from Memory Box.
This gorgeous Open Studio embossing folder would make a great card background.
From Poppy several new with shadow script word sentiment dies.
Sharon called this little guy a gnome. I think he's Santa on casual Friday! Lastly, a sample card using several of the products we have in.
This is a great sentiment stamp with lots of choices. As a bonus the die comes with it.

Greeting tabs that pop out for easy use.
More tabs in straight lines to go with the curvy banner style.
Open Studio's Christmas Labels in gold on white and on black. These are a followup to last year's labels but the paper is a bit thicker this time.
You know we can't put Taylored Expressions in our on-line store but Sharon wanted to share this die set with you. There are four dies in the package and they layer together to form a nativity scene. Call the store or come in if you are interested in this beautiful die set.
From Uniquely Yours a die and folio set that go together to make a folio book. You can also use these individually but Sharon is using them to create the album below. The folio also comes in white and Sharon will be creating a Christmas album with that when it comes in. Both are classes and you will need the die set in each class.
Here is Sharon's album using the supplies above.


Lastly for today we have classes. Sharon should have dates for everything by Tuesday if they aren't on the website already. 
This is the Graphic 45 class and the kits are ready for the regulars to pick up
This is Kim's Doodlebug class.
This is Sharon's Doodlepop class for Halloween,
Sharon's Album class.
We're running my shaker class. Sorry for the blurry image, Sharon kept shaking the cards! I will be substituting a Christmas themed card for the Halloween card. Each card is made using a different shaker technique.
Pink Fresh Holiday Cards.
Penny Black Leaves and Berries. NOTE: This class is $50. You will be getting the die, the embossing folder and the stencil as part of this class as each person attending will need their own set to complete the cards.
Lastly Sharon had an Ooops. She forgot these shimmer powders. You add water to the container, shake to mix the powder and spray.  I missed the label and it's hard to see the shimmer they produce on the video.
That's it for me for this week. I'm off again next weekend to Cleveland for our annual trip to see the Browns lose...Hopefully, we will also be seeing the Yankees win as we have tickets to both games. Keep your fingers crossed. I'd truly love to see the Bills beat the Jets tonight. We'll be flipping back and forth between the Yankees and the Bills. Here's my funny for the week.
I will try and catch Sharon's Saturday video next week and get it posted on Tuesday. Until then it's Go Bills! and above all everyone, Stay Safe.