Thursday, January 31, 2013

Tombow Marker demo next Saturday!

Just a quick reminder that the monthly FREE Crafty Capers demo is running next Saturday (Feb 9) between 10:30 am - 12:20 pm. Stop by anytime to see a bunch of neat techniques you can do with Tombow markers, they are not just for coloring!
Here is a card I did with Tombow markers and the "faux bleach" technique using clear embossing powder, Tombow markers and a Penny Black stamp on watercolor cardstock. This is just one of the easy techniques you can do with these markers.


The sentiment on this card is by Flourishes and was stamped on a Tim Holtz fragment, ribbon and twine by May Arts. Hope to see you at the demo!   Just a quick "heads up" all the Crafty Capers February classes are now full however we are taking a wait list for the Distress Ink class on Saturday Feb 16 please contact the store if you would like to be put on the list and we will try to get another class added if there is sufficient demand.

House Mouse Stamps!

After what seemed like an eternity of waiting (3 weeks! LOL) the first House Mouse stamps for 2013 arrived yesterday! Yeah!
Here are just a few of the stamps now in stock!
Hi! - Amanda Mouse
Seed Shooter!
Bathtub bunny - this stamp is by far the most popular House Mouse stamp we carry.
Don't spill the beans!
2 part harmony
Hurry in for best selection and watch the Crafty Capers website for a Spring & Easter class coming soon!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Another Hero Arts Challenge!

Managed to find a few minutes today to enter the Hero Arts monthly challenge for a second time! This time I chose to participate in their color challenge. The challenge was to use the colors  
I don't own these colors so had to improvise. I stamped the Hero Arts stamp Tall Flowers 3 times on my cardstock then embossed them with Ranger Seafoam white embossing powder. I used my pencil crayons to color the flowers up in the challenge colors. I used my Spellbinder Scallop border die to cut a scallop in the middle. I stamped the sentiment from the Hero Arts set called Fantastic Birthday. I added some Hero Arts lace, flowers and Pool gems to finish off the card.
This card looks nicer in real life wish I could have gotten a better photo!
Thanks everyone for stopping by.

Monday, January 28, 2013

New Arrivals

For those of you who attended the Alcohol Ink demo a few weeks back I am happy to report we have topped up our supply we now have all the metallic colors back in stock (these look amazing on black glossy cardstock!). I am expecting another batch of alcohol inks in a few weeks as all the colors are selling quickly!
Distress ink pads are now in stock and just in time for Kathy's (full) Distress ink class on February 16. If you have not had a moment to register for the Distress Ink class we are taking a wait list and may offer another class if there is enough demand!
Some of the new colors in stock:

Mustard Seed distress ink
Vintage Photo Distress ink
Spiced Marmalade Distress ink
We got a few new (open stock) Distress markers as well. If you have not tried the Distress markers, you should they are very nice to work with!

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Merry Monday Challenge!

The gals over at the Merry Monday Challenge have bird theme going on this week and I found a few minutes to get a quick Christmas card done to play along!
I am pretty happy with how the card turned out and it was quick card to boot! Funny how you can get a card whipped up quickly when you are under a tight deadline!
I stamped an image from the Penny Black stamp set "Cold nose warm heart" then colored it with my Prisma pencil crayons. I added some Be Creative tape over top of the image and added some Warm Highlight Glitter Ritz glitter. I cut an arrow from the Tim Holtz movers and shapers mini jalopy and arrow set and hand wrote "north pole" I added a Memory Box die called Frosty Border. The embossing folder is by Sizzix/Hero Arts and the Holiday Cheer sentiment is also by Penny Black (wood mounted).
Well that brings me to 2 Christmas cards made for 2013. I think that is an all time record for me so early in the year! I am teaching 3 classes next week so I am guessing there will be not much time for playing this week but you never know. I do have a few ideas floating around in my head. :)
Thanks everyone for stopping by!

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Try Something New!

Hero Arts's January contest involves "trying something new" I opted to try some of my new 2013 Hero Arts stamps for this contest. I began this card by cutting out 3 Sizzix Framelet hearts out of watercolor paper then I used the stamps/sets Looped Circle Pattern, Tiny Ink Spots & clear set My Favorite and heat embossed a different design on each heart with clear embossing powder. I pulled out my Tombow Markers (colors 245, 493 & 665) and colored about 1/2 of each heart then pulled the color out over the entire heart with my waterbrush. To give the hearts a bit more punch I sprayed them with some Pearlized Water made with water and Perfect Pearl, Pearl color, in a Ranger Mini mister. I used a Hero Arts/Sizzix embossing folder with Coredinations cardstock for the background. The sentiment is also by Hero Arts and comes from the My Favorite clear set.
Thanks everyone for stopping by!

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Lots of new dies in stock!

Crafty Capers received a big batch of new dies in today - over 30 designs if one wanted to get picky! Here are some of the highlights:
OK this is not a die but it IS a very cool embossing folder made by Cuttlebug. We have had these in stock before and they sold out quickly!

Spellbinder Scalloped Hearts we also have the matching smooth sided hearts as well.

Spellbinder D-lites (smaller than the regular dies) Flower Burst die

Memory Box Big Splash border - in stock for the first time.

Another Spellbinder D-Lite die, Window two

Memory Box Treble Clef die

Memory Box Madison Park Bench die - first time in stock!

Memory Box Madison House Set - you can make a house shaped card with these dies.

The very popular Grand Window die by Memory Box. The matching window box is also back in stock.

Attic key die by Memory Box.

Memory Box Curious Cat die. How cute!!

We have had this die in stock a couple of times but it is back. It is called Twig Wreath and is made by Impression Obsession.

New product alert! Crafty Capers is now carrying Inka Gold! Here is some quick info: Viva Decor’s Inka Gold is a revolutionary product that produces an amazing metallic finish without any toxic chemicals. With beeswax as one of the main ingredients, Inka Gold is safe and easy to use in all crafting and home decor projects. Just rub it on and polish!
Crafty Capers will be featuring Inka Gold products in an upcoming free Saturday demo!

Monday, January 21, 2013

A head start

I had a play date with some friends over the weekend and thought I would get a head start on some Christmas cards. This card is very straight forward. I colored the House Mouse image (Mice Snowball) with my Tombow markers on watercolor cardstock. I matted the image on a Spellbinder die called A2 Polka Dots using American Crafts glitter paper. The snowflake was cut with an Impression Obsession die.
Just a reminder that Crafty Capers has some great classes coming up in the next few weeks. For a complete listing check out the Crafty Capers classes page. Class samples are now available for viewing at the store.
Thanks everyone for stopping by!

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Golden Pears

 I made this card using some alcohol ink pieces I had left over from some of my alcohol ink playing last week. The pears were made with white glossy cardstock, Caramel, Butterscotch and Gold Mixative plus the Memory Box pear die.
The sentiment is by Flourishes (Tag lines set). Paper is by My Minds Eye and Graphic 45. The flourish die below the pears is called Amira Flourish and is also by Memory Box.
I love the pear die from Memory Box and can't wait to use it some more!

Monday, January 14, 2013

Thanks!

Thanks to everyone who stopped by for the demo on Saturday! We had a full house for most of the morning!
Here is another of the sample cards from the Ranger Alcohol ink demo. I made a second card of this type because I needed a Thank You card last week. This card came together so quickly makes me wonder why I don't use Alcohol inks on my cards more often!
I started this card by stamping and embossing this flower image with white embossing powder on glossy cardstock then I pounced Raisin and Terra Cotta alcohol inks over top of the entire piece of glossy cardstock. The alcohol inks are lighter on the white embossing powder so you get a ghost-like image. Very pretty in my opinion!
I matted the image as shown and added some May Arts twine then I stamped the thank you background with Canteloupe Memento ink. I finished off the card with some white pearls that I custom colored using more Raisin alcohol ink.
Alcohol ink: Raisin & Terra Cotta
Other ink: Memento Cantaloupe
Stamps: Stampendous Ranunculas Field; Hero Arts So Many Thanks
Other: Hero Arts pearls, Ranger Seafoam white embossing powder, May Arts twine

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Alcohol Ink demo today!

Crafty Capers is having a free Alcohol ink demo today between 10:30 am and 12:30 pm. Stop by to see how to create this stunning card! I have been having a lot of fun trying new alcohol ink techniques this week and can't wait to show you just a few of them!
I will be posting a few of the demo cards on the blog next week but most will be left on display at the store so stop by to see them in real life!

Friday, January 11, 2013

Colored Embossing

I had to make a sympathy card recently. Here is what I came up with.
I started by embossing white vellum with a Craft Concepts embossing folder called Yves then I colored the embossed areas with my Prisma pencil crayons. I matted the vellum on a piece of white cardstock to give it stability. I matted everything as shown and added an Impression Obsession sentiment stamped with Cataloupe Memento ink. The swirls on either side of the sentiment were done by hand with a pencil crayon. The bottom lacy border was done with a Spellbinder Romantic Rectangle die. Ribbon is by Hero Arts. I added some Liquid Pearls (petal pink) to the centers of the flowers to some extra definition.
Don't forget tomorrow Crafty Capers is having a free Ranger Alcohol ink demo between 10:30 am - 12:30 pm. Drop in anytime during those hours and see some of the neat things you can do with Alcohol inks!

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

A study in black and white

Well wasn't that crazy weather yesterday???? I really hope we have seen the end of the snow! Ick!!
I always forgot about the color combo black and white however I am always very happy with how the cards turn out when I do I use this combo.
This card was super quick to do and would work for pretty much any occasion. I grabbed a piece of My Mind's Eye paper and embossed 3 daisies from the Impression Obsession set Nature Prints with black embossing powder. I stamped the Hero Arts sentiment also in black embossing powder then added some May Arts twine then mounted the cardstock to my main card and easy peasy card done!
Thanks everyone for stopping by hope you are having a great week!

Monday, January 7, 2013

New Hero Arts!

Even more new arrivals today (see told you no rest for Kathy today!).
NEW Hero Arts Fancy dies have not been in stock before but I expect they will sell out quickly!
Love this alphabet - I need one!



Hero Arts Suitcase

Leafy Vine - this one has been in before and sold out. Now back in stock!

Hexagon Background.



Renaissance Heart - just in time for Valentines!
Heart Cupcake - so cute!

New Arrivals today!

Very exciting day at Crafty Capers the first new arrivals of 2013! That is right, I said arrivalzzzzz!  :) Kathy certainly had no time for lollygagging!
Here are just a few of the cool new things at the store currently!

For the first time ever Crafty Capers has Pink Paislee 12x12 papers in stock! I love this pink and grey Valentine color scheme - its called Secret Crush. We have the 12x12 papers as well as the 6x6 paper pad in stock now!
Pink Paislee Secret Crush
Pink Paislee Secret Crush paper
These stamps by BoBunny were in before Christmas but sold out in under 24 hours. They are back. Our new instructor Lori will be doing a Valentine card class featuring these stamps (and you get the stamps included in your class fee too).
BoBunny Love Letter 6x6 paper pad back in stock!
The Artbin Spellinder storage system is back in stock. These have been EXTREMELY popular and because of this these bins will be sold on a first come first serve basis. We have more already on order.
We also have a full selection of Stickles glitter glue, Liquid Pearls, Detail Embossing Powders and 12x12 Coredination and Bazzill cardstocks back in the store!

Poppy Birthday

A friend posted an article on Facebook the other day saying people who spent more time in nature are more creative. Interesting theory. I have been walking for 30 minutes each day for over a week now (in nature) and I do feel more creative so there might be something to that study! In addition, I have lost 2lbs so I can't complain! I AM complaining that I don't have a doggie walking companion however so watch this space for some doggie news hopefully in the next couple of months or so! :)
Here is one of my "creative masterpieces" from last week!
I stamped the Hero Arts wood grain stamp on a piece of Bazzill cardstock with Hero Arts Soft Brown ink. I am LOVING the Hero Arts inks right now and imagine my surprise when I was doing a bit of reorganizing last week and found I owned about 10 of them - I though I owned about 3!! Anyway back to the card...
I cut out a Spellbinder oval die and stenciled more of the Hero Arts soft brown ink onto it then stamped the Hero Arts sentiment using Versafine Vintage Sepia ink. I cut out the Prim Poppy die from Memory Box twice once in green and once in red then layered them as shown then tied a bow with some white embrodary floss I have had kicking around for years! I used my EK Success butterfly bunch on some scrap red cardstock and punched out 3 butterflies. I finished off the card with 3 Hero Arts pearls just below my sentiment.
Just a reminder Crafty Capers will be having a FREE (gotta like that price) Alcohol ink demo this Saturday Jan 12 from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm. I have some pretty cool inky techniques/cards lined up for the demo if I do say so myself!

Friday, January 4, 2013

Alcohol Ink Demo!

Crafty Capers will have a FREE Ranger Alcohol Ink demo next Saturday Jan 12 from 10:30 - 12:30. Drop in anytime between 10:30 and 12:30. Here is a sneak peak of one of the techniques show cased.
Alcohol ink colors used: Meadow, Lettuce & Butterscotch
Stamp: Stuff to Say set from Tim Holtz
Dies by Memory Box: Nestled Bird & Swirly Tree.

Hope to see you at the demo next Saturday!