Stamp Action

QuicKutz Dies Have Arrived

I hope you are planning a fun 4^th of July weekend full of backyard burgers and lots of sun.  Here in the desert Southwest, we’re in the monsoon season so we’re just hoping it won’t rain on our festivities.  The card at left will be our free make and take this weekend so stop in and make one.  It uses the Martha Stewart Lace Doily punch and we have a new shipment of Martha’s punches coming next week. It also uses Hero Arts Wallpaper Flowers for the background and one of the four stamps in Hero’s Artistic Windows set for the main image.

Quickutz Dies Have Arrived!

The exciting news around the store is that our first order of Quickutz dies arrives Friday!  We are so excited to introduce the Quickutz product line to our customers.  Quickutz is the original and oldest personal die cutting system manufacturer.  They make the hand-held Squeeze, the Revolution, and now the brand new Epic 6. 

We are so pleased to be carrying their product line that we are offering these dies at tremendous sale prices for the month of July only.  Look at these unheard of bargains:

·       Complete alphabets & numbers on a 4”x8” die for $20 (reg. $40)

·       12” Border dies for only $13 (reg. $30)

·       2”x2” single cut dies for only $3 (reg. $7)

·       2”x2” double cut dies for only $5 (reg. $13)

We will also have Quickutz embossing folders, both A2 and 12” sizes, and 4” x 4” dies.  Quickutz dies will work in your Wizard.

And while we are talking about Quickutz, be watching for some truly revolutionary new products when they reveal their new product line at CHA on July 21.  I can’t wait to find out what’s coming!

The Stamp Act will be open both Saturday (10am to 5pm) and Sunday (1 to 5pm) so hurry in for best selection.  At these prices they won’t last long!

Flower Soft is Very Popular

Our new display of Flower Soft has caught the eye of everyone who comes in and it’s flying off the shelves.  Flower Soft is quick and easy and gives your hand-stamped cards a unique dimension and professional touch.  Stop in this weekend for a sneak peek at how to work with Flower Soft.

 

 

New Samples to Share with You

I have been playing with some new Hero Arts stamps this week and frankly having a ball.  Let me share with you some new samples I created – they are all quick and easy and will most likely be a class in August.

The card (above left) is white but my new computer is scanning badly so I apologize for the dirty look of it.  It uses 3 of the 4 stamps in the Hero' s Artistic Windows set.  The pink card above uses a Cuttlebug embossing folder (Textile Tapestry) for the background; a stamp from Thank You Flourishes for the design on the white die cut (Spellbinders Labels 4); and  thank you sentiment form Impression Obsession.  The Butterfly die cut is from Spellbinders Butterflies 2 set. 

 

To send a special thank you to a friend, I created the card at left.  I embossed the bright blue paper with the Cuttlebug embossing folder Swiss Dots; punched the fence and the tulips (both Martha Stewart); cut the grass with Fiskars grass scissors; die cut the "U.R." with Spellbinders Playful Alphabet (retired); and finally stamped the "1 of a Kind" from Hero's Thoughtful Messages. Here are a few more samples:
 

 I used the Spellbinders Loopy frame for the card!







Upcoming Classes

Saturday, July 11th will be a busy day here as I teach two popular classes.  In the morning I will teach all about Spellbinders Impressabilities – the new very thin metal templates that emboss paper.  I will show you a variety of ways to use these to create cards with unique textures.  See all the samples for this class at http://stampactelpaso.com/JULY2009.html.

Saturday afternoon I will introduce you to Blending with Copic markers.  Coloring with these permanent, alcohol-based markers yields vivid colors unlike any other medium.  Blending the colors just takes a little knowledge and the right tools.  Sign up early for this fun and informative class.  Check out all the samples for this class at http://stampactelpaso.com/JULY2009.h

On Saturday, August 1, Felicity will teach a class using Spellbinders Inverted Scallop Squares and Circles die.  The Baby card at left is a wonderful example of how striking the dies are.  Unfortunately if she taught this card it would be a one card class as it is very involved!  But check out her other samples below.  All the cards in the class will be made with Basic Grey Lime Rickey paper and everyone attending will get a 6x6 Lime Rickey paper pad with the class.

   

Have a great weekend and come and see us at The Stamp Act.  Please patronize your local stamp store so we can be here when you need us.  Thanks!

Flower Soft has arrived!

Late last week we received many exciting deliveries including Flower Soft.  I wanted to give this new product a prominent display and, as they say, one thing led to another and I ended up moving, cleaning and marking down lots and lots of merchandise.  That means there are hundreds of stamps now on sale at 50% off!  Look at the photos of the sale area -- as you can see there are fabulous bargains for everyone so hurry in and save -- save-- save!

 

 

Our Flower Soft class is filling up so if you're interested in learning lots of tips and techniques for working with this fun media, give me a call (915-833-9500) to register.  You will make 5 cards and receive a kit with 7 pots of Flower Soft in an array of pastel colors.  Harriet will even show you how to Copic markers with Flower Soft!  If you cannot attend the class, don't let that deter you from buying Flower Soft.  it is very user friendly and I'll give you a Tip Sheet with lots of hints.  This is a really hot product so come see the samples in person!

 

 Other New Merchandise

Doesn't this watermelon look good enough to eat?  It's a new stamp from Impression-Obsession and it just screams summer to me.  I colored it with Copic markers and stamped the background (Hero Arts SUmmer stamps) in Versamark ink.  The black "Happy Summer" sentiment is from A Muse Art Stamps.  After mounting the watermelon slices, I colored them each with Glossy Accents to give them that wet, glossy appearance.

 

My friend Michelle was the inspiration for this card.  This Impression-Obsession stamp is so colorful and summery -- again I colored it with Copic Markers and added a little bling to the berries.  Fun and easy!  It is mounted on Basic Grey Urban Prairie paper.

New Hero Arts Samples

This card is created with Hero's Sweet Fleurs which I colored with a variety of Copic Markers.  I then framed it with Spellbinders Loopy Frame to give it an open and airy appearance.  A few bling and a butterfly were added for fun.



Hero's "Thanks for Everything Greeting" is perfect for making fast cards.  I stamped it on pale yellow cardstock twice, cutting along the inside straight lines and along the scalloped lines around the outside.  I colored the scallops with Copic markers.  Then I stamped it again on orange cardstock and cut out just the "Thinking of You" sentiment which I adhered to the main image.  I added ribbon and mounted this image to a background created with Hero's "Wavy Leaf Pattern" stamped in memento Rosebud ink.  Quick and easy yet very attractive.

 

My last Hero card is a sample from an upcoming class that will be all about Window Cards.  This one uses the "Heart Flourish" stamp which I love.  It's inked in Memento Rosebud and Tangelo and stamped on pink paper.  I used a Spellbinders Classic Circle (not in the conventional way!) to "cut" the circle and lined it with stamped vellum.  Join is on July 18 from 2 to 4pm for more fun with Windows!

Quickutz Epic 6 Die Cutting System

Many of you have pre-ordered the new Epic 6 die cutting system from Quickutz.  As you know, this brand new system is a great value.  It's being offered with an instant $20 rebate making the price only $69.99 (regularly $89.99) and a rebate for a $20 die free!  For those of you who are "sitting on the fence" there's more good news.  You can buy the Epic 6 with both rebates until August 31st!  So come in a ask me to demo it for you!

 

But wait -- as they say in the infomercials! -- there's more!  I just learned today that Quickutz is putting many, many dies on sale!  2" x 2" dies are half-price at only $3 or $5!  WOW!  And some (small) alphabets (all together on a 4" x 8" die) are only $20!  Unbelievable.  There are also border dies and nesting dies on sale too! 

 

Customers who pre-order the new Epic 6 will have first choice of the dies but I have ordered enough for everyone.  I will also be able to reorder dies one more time so be sure to look through the catalogue when you are here to see what you want.  If you can't wait, go to Quickutz.com and scroll through the products.  Let me know which dies you want and I will order them for you.

 

Don't miss the Epic 6 Workshops planned for Sat, July 25 (10am to noon) and Sunday, July 26, 1 to 3pm.  Sign up now!

 

One more exciting thing -- I will soon have access to a video showing a demo of the new Epic 6!  I will post it here when it is live.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lots of News from The Stamp Act

Hi Friends.  Yes it’s been a while since I blogged.  First I was busy with the usual chores of preparing classes, ordering and stocking merchandise, and helping customers.  Then I was out of town for my niece’s graduation (wonderful!) and when I returned I was between computers for a week.  Suffice to say it’s been an eventful summer so far.  Enough of that, I have lots of exciting news to share with you today!

Quickutz New Epic 6 die cutting system

I am bringing in several exciting new product lines this summer starting with Quickutz.  Most of you know Quickutz is one of the first manufacturers of personal die cutting machines such as the handheld Squeeze and the tabletop Revolution.  This summer they are premiering their new tabletop die cutting system called the Epic 6.  The company says that the Epic 6 surpasses the size and scope of earlier models, and beats competing tools in both quality and performance.  It cuts and embosses Quickutz dies as well as all leading brands of dies.  It is constructed of high quality metal parts yet is lightweight and portable.  It has a 6” wide opening and comes with a cutting mat, cutting platform and embossing platform that are all 13” x 6.”  That means they will accommodate the longer 12” border dies and embossing folders that are becoming more and more popular. 

But here’s the really good news!  If you pre-order the Epic 6 by June 30^th through The Stamp Act, you will receive 2 rebates.  First you will receive an instant rebate of $20 so you pay only $69.99!  The second is a mail-in product rebate for an exclusive 6” die you can redeem through QuicKutz.

I have already pre-sold 7 machines and expect more people to order before the deadline.  At this price point, it’s a great time to “take the plunge” into the die cutting world or upgrade an older machine.  Of course, the Epic 6 is brand new and I do not have one yet.  I have spoken to very reliable sources who have the Revolution system (Epic’s predecessor) and love it.  They say it is very easy to use and very reliable.  I still intend to carry the Wizard – we were one of the very first stores to sell the Wizard starting in 2003!  I see Quickutz as a good complement to the Spellbinders line of dies.  Quickutz 2” x 2” dies are cute, fun and great for adding a bit of whimsy to a card or scrapbook page.

Please call me (833-9500) or come by the store if you are interested in pre-ordering the Epic 6.  I have already planned two launch party/workshops for Saturday, July 25 from 10 to noon and Sunday, July 26 from 1 to 3pm.  I hope you can join us to learn more about this wonderful new machine!

Flower Soft

My second new product line is Flower Soft.  Flower Soft is an amazing pot of colored sprinkles, that lets you embellish text, create designs and add miniature floral embellishments to your cards and pages.  Flower Soft is acid free and is loved by both cardmakers and scrapbookers.  It's so simple; all you need is Flower Soft PVA glue and a little imagination!

Flower Soft is sold in box sets – pastel, primary, floral bouquet and pretty pots – and individually in 30ml containers.  It comes in 20 single colors and 6 mixed colors.  Harriet will introduce us to Flower Soft in her July 18 class (10 to noon).  Be sure to visit http://stampactelpaso.com/JULY2009.html to see the class samples; during class Harriet will share dozens more samples that she has made with Flower Soft.

Just a quick note: the product should arrive very soon so be sure to watch this space for more details!

Spellbinders New Pendant & Borderabilities

June 22 through June 29 is the launch of the Blog Frenzy for Spellbinders new dies.  They are releasing 8 new Pendant Dies and 8 new coordinating Border dies.  Check out these blogs for more details and photos of projects made with these dies!  They are very exciting.  Top pre-order just call or email me at hellopoll@aol.com.  Anyone pre-ordering any of the new dies by July 4^th will receive a 10% discount on their order and be entered in a drawing for a free die set!  Be sure to check the blogs for listed below for all the exciting details of these new dies!

6/22 – Becca Feeken  amazingpapergrace.com/

6/23 – Debbie Olson    debbiedesigns.typepad.com/

6/24 – M. Wooderson  michellewooderson.blogspot.com/

6/25 – Keri Sereika   pinklemonade.typepad.com/

6/26 – S.Cheever sherrycheever.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

6/27 – Heidi Blankenship     embellished-dreams.blogspot.com/

6/28 – Linda Duke           lindaduke.typepad.com/

6/29 – Jennifer Davis     preservationarts.com/

BTW – if the name Jennifer Davis sounds familiar to many of you, she taught the first Wizard Academy at The Stamp Act in 2005!

 Upcoming Classes

There are many, many wonderful classes coming up.  This weekend we will be making a Summer Mini Book featuring 7 Gypsies products.  If you attend the morning class you will complete the book with papers and stickers.  Come back in the afternoon and complete the pages with die cuts and stamps.  The book isn’t that “mini-sized” as there are 36 pages!  If you’d like to do the book but can’t attend the class, you can purchase the class kit which comes with step-by-step instructions and color photos. Get all the details at http://stampactelpaso.com/JUNE2009.html.  Here’s a few previews!

Impressive Cards with Impressability Templates – July 11, 10am -- Learn all the ways to use these versatile templates to add backgrounds, foregrounds and rich details to your cards and pages. Details at http://stampactelpaso.com/JULY2009.html.

Copic Marker Tutorial – July 11, 2pm -- Thanks to Becca Feeken for designing these beautiful cards.  Come to the class learn why all the bloggers are singing the praises of Copic Markers!  Details at http://stampactelpaso.com/JULY2009.html.

 

 

 

 

Introduction to Flower Soft – July 18, 10am -- Flower Soft gives stamped flowers super dimension and pizzazz, but that’s just the beginning!  Learn all about it in this fun class!  Details at http://stampactelpaso.com/JULY2009.html.

 

 

 

Penny Black Sticker Cards – July 25, 2pm -- Create several cards with that special “shabby chic” look that comes from combining floral stickers and stamps from Penny Black.  Details at http://stampactelpaso.com/JULY2009.html.

 

 

 

EPIC 6 Workshop – July 25, 10 am and Sunday, July 26m 1pm -- Learn all about the EPIC 6 while you cut and emboss with dies, embossing folders and embossing borders.  Details at http://stampactelpaso.com/JULY2009.html.

 

Father's Day Cards

Hi fellow stampers.  Sorry it's been so long since I blogged but I have been so busy preparing classes and samples to share with you.  Last Saturday was our fabulous, day-long, 7 Gypsies Home Book class.  Eleven people attended and all created a beautiful book while learning how to use some of the newest 7 Gypsy products.  If you would like to create your own 7 Gypsies book, join us for the 7 Gypsies Summer Book class coming on Saturday, June 27.  It too is all day if you choose to complete both parts of the book.  This colorful book is perfect for summer photos or just as  a reminder of a fun day of papercrafting!  Read more about it and see more photos on our website at www.stampactelpaso.com. 

While you are visinting the June class page on our website, check out the classes for this month.  We are starting with a perennial favorite -- Birthday Cards -- using new stamps from Stampendous.  From cupcakes to party hats to candles, there's something to please everyone.  And we can all use a stash of birthday cards!  What's great about Stampendous clear stamp sets is that they are packed with stamps.  I could create a dozen different cards using these sets.  Here are four more samples!

 
The Polka Dot Frame card (above right) is made using the new Spellbinders Polka Dot Frame.  I will show you how to use the frame to create the card and how to ink the polka dots!  I love this frame -- it's so colorful and cute.  Just think, you can ink the dots any color or colors you choose!
 

Father's Day Cards

Hero Arts has a new Father's Day clear set and a new Stars clear set and I used both of these to make samples for Father's Day.  You may have seen some similar samples on the Hero Arts Blog. 

           

The bottom two cards were made with Cosmo Cricket's Lil Man paper collection that just arrived along with their Early Bird and Girl Friday collections.  For both these cards I embossed the background paper with the Cuttlebug Argyle embossing folder.  All the stamps are from the two Hero clear sets referenced above, Hero's new Clouds background, and a set called Original Definitions (Family).  The first three cards were colored with Copic Markers.

Sympathy Cards

Unfortunately, sometimes we need sympathy cards.  Recently my frined Suzi Azar's husband Dick died of cancer and I wanted to make a special card for her.  I used Cosmo Cricket's Lil Man paper with the airplanes because Suzi and Dick were both pilots and loved to fly. The sentiment stamp is from Rubber Moon.  While I was creating sympathy cards, I decided to do another using a favorite stamp of mine from Paper Inspirations and Sublime paper from KaiserCraft.  I cut the sentiment and the mat using Spellbinders Mega Curved Rectangles.

That's all for now.  Be sure to stop in the store soon and check out the new products -- here's a few that have arrived recently:

Tim Holtz grungepaper
New Tim Holtz embellishments like the tiny screw top brads in the BBQ card above
New Tim Holtz cling mounted stamps -- he's downsized some larger stamps!
New Tim Holtz ATC-sized stamps
Paper, flowers, embellishments and transparencies from Prima
Memory Glass, frames and new capsules from Ranger -- check out my June 20 class!
New clear sets from Penny Black
Lots, lots more!

Thanks fro reading the blog -- stop in and shop soon.

Penny Black: New Stamps and Sticker Cards

Please Note:  Yesterday's post included photos of a Treat Box and I neglected to attribute the box idea to Michelle Rodgers' blog on www.stampersdream.  I am very sorry for this oversight as Michelle is a friend and a wonderful stamper. 

Penny Black Rubber Stamps is well known for beautiful flower designs which have long been offered in wood mounted rubber stamps.  Recently, the company began re-issuing the original designs in slightly smaller versions in clear stamp sets.  This is a idea because now you can enjoy the same design but use it in different ways due to the smaller scale.  This week the company issued more clear stamp sets and two wood mounted stamps -- some of which are flowers and others are cute little critters!  Let me show you the new release.  All are in stock right now but I don't expect them to last long.
   
 
The "enjoy" set (above right) was one I used for a class recently so here are the samples I made using that set:
  

Here are the new clear stamp sets featuring cute little critters:
       

In addition to stamps, Penny Black also issues the designs as beautifully colorful stickers.  I am teaching a class on Saturday, May 23 (10am to noon) that combines a set of these stickers with stamps to create several creative cards.  let me share with you the samples for that class.  I hope you will want to come!
       

The first card (above left), the Iris card (second row right) and the last card (above right) use another Penny Black clear set called Sentiments:

  This set has wonderful sentiments and creative background stamps.  I have used it several times already -- look at the tag on this birthday card.  This card was copied from one Sharon Johnson posted on her blog.  It uses an Inkadinkado bird stamp and Sublime paper from KaiserCraft.  The tag is die cut with a ribbon tag from Spellbinders.

That's enough for today.  Enjoy the samples and better yet come to class and make your own!  

Shrink Plastic -- Fast, Fun and Fantastic!

Hello stamping friends.  Last week was so busy which means I have lots to share with you today.  First I want to show you the cards we will be making this Saturday morning from 10am to noon in my "Honey We Shrunk the Plastic!" class.  The card on the left is an example of the intaglio technique and "sea or beach glass" technique.  On the card on at the right I shrink the bees and the bee hive!  As you know shrink plastic comes in clear, white, translucent and black and we will be using all four colors in class.  Here are two more cards we will be making in class.

  
I hope you can join us for this class.  Just call me at 915-833-9500 or email me at hellopolly@aol.com.

EK Success and Martha Stewart Punches

In a recent post I showed you all the fun new punches that we got in or ordered from EK and MS.  Several of you emailed me to order some of the new fall holiday punches.  As you know, I do not have an on line store; however I am happy to take pre-orders on these punches (or to mail other products for that matter), so if you see something you want, please call or email me for more info.   I finally had a few minutes to make a couple samples using the new MS punches:

 
Lady Bug punch                            Fence and Butterfly punches

New Arrivals: Just Rite Stamper

EDITED 5/14/2009:  The Treat Box and the Cookie Flower Stacks are copied from ones that Michelle Rodgers posted on her blog recently.  I am very sorry I did not state that yesterday.  You can find her blog at www.stampersdream.com.

The new Just Rite stamper products are all in stock so hurry in for a wonderful selection of exciting new products.  I will have more samples soon, but take a look at this cutie -- we will be making this treat box in my May 23 class: "Treat Boxes and Cookie Flower Stacks."
 
A Great Teacher thank you!       Inside a candy bar!

Felicity loves coffee especially Starbucks so naturally she oved the new Caffeine Set!  Here she used one of the 6 different borders and centers that comes with the set for her focal images.  It is set atop a coffee background stamp (My Sentiments Exactly) that is stamped on background paper made with the "shaving cream" technique.  That's a wonderful card Felicity.  Thanks!

New Arrivals: More Spellbinder Dies

More Spellbinder dies arrived this week and among them were more Impressabilities.  These  thin, stencil-like metal "grids" (words obviously fail me!) are so easy to use and can really add to your artwork.  Let me show you some samples that Felicity and I made:
   The "sandwich" recipe for using Impressabilities in the Wizard is: Bottom white spacer plate, Impressability, paper, embossing mat then top white plate.  However, if you cut your image, in this case the flowers, try leaving the cardstock in the die and placing the die/paper (always cut side up) on the Impressability then the embossing mat and thick white mat.  This means you will emboss and impress your flowers at the same time!  Now, leave the flowers in the die and use a jumbo finger dauber to apply ink to your impressing -- I used Rose Bud Memento ink.  Viola -- you have a beautiful dark pink flower full of texture with a light pink border!  My friend Marlis told me to try this months ago and she was right -- it's so cool!  Thanks Marlis!  BTW -- I used the flower Impressability for this sample.

Here are some other samples:

I apologize for the poor quality of the first photo.  In it you see Felicity used the flower Impressability to emboss her background paper.  Then she ran Brilliance Moonlight White ink over the top of the embossing.  In the Thanks card, she die cut her letters (Spellbinders Indulgence alpha discontinued) then impressed each letter and added a darker olive ink for contrast.
For this card I impressed the background paper with the snowflakes Impressability then used Brilliance Sky Blue ink across the top.  I die cut the paper with Spellbinders Mega Curved Rectangles then die cut two snowflakes to mount on top.  A little glitter and a blue accent pearl finish the card.

If you haven't tried Impressabilities, they are the most fun $6.99 can buy.  In addition to flower and snowflake, there are paisley and butterfly.  They are all in stock so hurry in to get yours!

 

Graduation Time

Hello Stamping Friends,

Graduation season is in full swing here at The Stamp Act.  I have been very busy the last two weeks finishing the graduation invitations for my niece Emilee and creating a very fun graduation “advent calendar” for her to countdown to the big day.  The calendar itself was easy and can be completed in a matter of about 30 minutes top if you take the easy way out like I did.  I covered the 25 drawers (left) with paper (Basic Grey Wisteria collection) and didn’t paint the box itself.  Unfortunately it is covered with a very slick glossy paper so it’s hard to paint unless you sand, etc. etc. and that was way to much work!  I added a checkerboard book knob to the top (7 Gypsies) and added the number stickers which come with the calendar.  Then I filled each drawer with a miniature chocolate bar with a date sticker.  The hard part of this project was finding and wrapping 25 presents!  I covered the box on the right above with Making Memories 5^th Avenue flocked paper.  You will notice that I did the stickers two ways -- one counting down and one counting up -- suit yourself on how you think it should go!

My other gift to Emilee is a book I made called “Words for Wise Women.”  Inside there are 27 pages of stamped wisdom.  I loved finding sentiment stamps with cool phrases then illustrating them.  I created the pages using Spellbinders Labels One (largest die) and Basic Grey Urban Prairie paper.  Originally I planned to adhere the pages to die cut chipboard then bind them with the Bind it All.  However, I changed my mind and decided I would rather use page protectors and slip the pages inside the protectors then bind the page protectors.  Do you know how hard it is to find 4 1/4" page protectors??  Fortunately I did find them (Bazzill) and everything worked out great!  There's a trick to punching page protectors so if you ever plan to do it, be sure to call or email me for instructions!  Here are a few examples of the pages.  By the way, Emilee wants to be a veterinarian and will attend Texas A & M University. 

   
 

My friend Susan came over yesterday and needed a card for a friend graduating from the University of Texas at El Paso so we got busy and made a card using UTEP colors of blue and orange and two new stamps from Penny Black (Graduates and Congratulations).  Shown are the outside and the inside of the card:

I have a great response to the Martha Stewart fall holiday punches (see my last post), but remember if you like them, you need to reserve them now because they will fly out of her when they arrive.  I have had a quite a few out of towners call and pre-order punches so you in town people need to act now and get your name on the list.  Some of these punches sold out last season and people were so disappointed they couldn’t find them anywhere!  If you want to pre-order, just call me at 915-833-9500 with your contact info.  Then when they arrive I will ship them right off to you or call you to pick them up.

The other big seller recently has been the Just Rite Stamper new release.  Everything came in and sold out ASAP!  I have more on order and will let you know when it arrives – hopefully next week.  Just to when your appetite, here’s a card Felicity made using Spellbinders Pinking dies and the new 1 3/16” Tiny Words borders and centers.  You see the border on the outside of the card and the center on the inside of the card.  Cute!  That set is a really good one as it has a wide variety of borders and centers, perfect for many occasions.  This weekend Felicity is teaching a class with Just Rite Stampers and several of the sets.  Look at her beautiful cards then call and sign up to learn all about this wonderful product!  The first 3 cards are the class.

   
 

I accomplished one more thing this week and I will show you just a brief preview!  I finished the 7 Gypsies "Gypsy House Book" I am teaching on Saturday, May 30.  Here are photos of just a few of the pages -- there are 9 pages covered back and front!  Remember, sign up before May 15 for the best price -- it's an all day class and it's going to be fun!
 
For more photos go to my website at www.stampactelpaso.comand click on classes then May then scroll down to May 30.

That's enough inspiration for one day.  Thank you readers and subscribers!  Remember, you can subscribe to this blog and it will come right to your e mailbox complete with photos and all!  Just click on the little box at the top left to subscribe!  Email me anytime at hellopolly@aol.com.  Happy Stamping!

Exciting New Punches from EK Success and Martha Stewart

Punches are more popular than ever and EK Success and Martha Stewart are taking the punching world to a whole new very exciting level.  Today Iw ant to share with you the brand new punches coming this summer from Martha Stewart, but first let me show you some from EK Success that you can have right now!  Actually, our first shipment sold out quickly, but new ones should arrive very soon.  Not only do the EK edge punches have fabulous, innovative designs, but they fold down and lock in place for a sleeker look that minimizes storage!  Yeah!!!

 

Don't you love the images?  I especially love the Dinosaur border -- it will coordinate with a single dinosaur punch coming from Martha Stewart and a new clear stamp set of cute dinosaurs coming soon from Penny Black!  Wouldn't these make a cute birthday card or party invitation for a little boy or girl?  And the candles border is sure to be popular for birthdays!  The baby border is perfect for teacher thank you cards and the beach for vacation scrapbooks.  I have many of these punches on order and expect them to arrive next week.  Please let me know if you want me to hold one for you!  Just call me at 915-833-9500 or email to hellopolly@aol.com.

Now let me show you the brand new Martha punches that will be coming this summer.  I have many of them on pre-order and expect they will sell out quickly so if you want any of them, reserve yours now!

 

Martha has a new concept for making a continuous border -- combine a corner punch with a coordinating edge punch.  The resulting "square" can be as small as 3.25" and grow by increments of 1.75" up to 12"!  My favorite is the spider web!  

Now, here are Martha's new edge punches -- I love them all!

  

 

Martha has really taken edge punches to a whole new place -- adding words and images that will make our cards even more expressive and exciting.  Again, these punches will be here in late July so if you want to be first to have one, please let me know now and I will reserve one of the first just for you.

Just Arrived at The Stamp Act

Basic Grey Wisteria Collection -- bright purples, soft greens and tans -- all 12" papers
Don't miss the Basic Grey Wisteria card kit class on Saturday, May 2 from 2 to 4pm.

New alcohol inks from Tim Holtz -- all brights and lights

New Bind it All Book from Zutter -- lots and lots of projects

New stamps from Hero Arts -- clouds and flowers -- they are sooooo cool!

Stop in soon and let me know how you like the punches!

Girly Cards from Impression Obsession

Hi friends.  I hope you had a pleasant weekend.   I had a chance this weekend to make some really cute cards using "girly" stamps from Impression Obsession.  I will teaching these in a class this Saturday morning.  These are fun cards to send to girlfriends, daughters and Mom's.  I hope you will join us for the class. 

This is going to be a veyr short post today as Monday is my "day off" and I must run to the grocery, luandry and dog groomer.  Don't forget Felicity's class Saturday afternoon with her spectacular "bows" made with Spellbinders new Octagon Dies.  Here are the projects she will be teaching in her class:

    

I hope to see you soon.  Please remember that if you don't shop locally, The Stamp Act won't be here.  This is a tough time and I really appreciate the customers who are shopping here.  We have so many wonderful stamps, papers and embellishments -- please stop in soon.  Thank You!

New Hero Arts Stamps Class

This Saturday morning Felicity is teaching a very fun class featuring many of the new Hero Arts stamps.  As these cards show, Felicity loves color, and she will be teaching how to blend Prismacolor pencils using Odorless Mineral Spirits.  If you have not mastered this technique this will be a great opportunity to learn from the "master" -- Felicity is not only great with coloring (of all types) but also a great teacher.  Just give me a call at 833-9500 or email to hellopolly@aol.com to register.

Speaking of Felicity, she also brought in another card that uses a new stamp set be Hero Arts.  This is the cutest card -- perfect for a guy's birthday.  Again, notice her coloring technique.  Stitching across the top and Fiskars Treading Water border punch across the bottom frame the coupon panel nicely. 

Spellbinders Octagon Dies Class

Don't forget about Felicity's class on April 25th.  She brought in this sample today and it is spectacular!  She covered the front of the bag with DP then made the medallion to match.  You could complete the gift with a card to match!  In her class she will show you how to make medallions and how to make a stunning card using the octagon dies.

Honey I Shrunk the Plastic!

I will be teaching a class on May 16 that will explore Shrink Plastic.  Many of you have expressed interest in learning more about this mysterious material so I thought I would share some of the samples I made for the class. 

For this card I stamped a new Penny Black stamp called Day-Dreams on clear shrink plastic which I had cut with a Spellbinders Scalloped Rectangle die.  I colored the flowers with Copic Markers then shrank the plastic. To give you some perspective on the actual size of the stamp, here's another card I made using the stamp.  For this card I stamped the image and colored it with Copic markers then cut it out using Spellbinders new Labels 4 die.  I cut the mat using the next larger size Label 4 die then embossed it with Cuttlebug's Textile Tapestry embossing folder.  I really like the open and airy feeling of the stamp.  Here's another cute sample from the Shrink Plastic class.   The Flourish Bee (Inkadinkado) is stamped on white shrink but not before I colored the plastic with ... well you can find out when you take the class -- it's pretty clever if I do say so myself!  The bee hive, sentiment and branch are from A Muse.  You can see more samples at our website: www.stampactelpaso.com.  Just click on classes then May then scroll down to May 16.
  

Wizard Workshop -- Creating Flowers

Saturday afternoon's class is going to a be fun as we explore making a variety of flowers with the Wizard and new Spellbinder dies.  Here's a recap of the samples we will make:
 

 

I hope you can join us and learn more about expressing yourself through stamping and paper crafting.  Thanks for reading the blog and please post any comments you'd like.  Stop in and see what's new at The Stamp Act.