Store Closing

Hello papercrafters!


Well BIG news today, in fact the BIGGEST.


As The Stamp Act nears its 18th anniversary, I have decided to retire.  So…

The Stamp Act is closing.

First let me thank you...
You have been amazing and creative friends to me, Chloe and all my wonderful employees over the years.  While I will not miss the work of running a busy store, I will miss you. I have enjoyed getting to know you and your papercrafting addictions! 


There is no way for me to thank you personally in a letter like this so my hope is that you will come in and let me say it to you face to face.

Now, I need your help. I need to sell EVERYTHING in the store.


Starting Saturday, September 8 everything will be 40% off.  First come, first served and all sales are final. 

I want to close the store as soon as possible so please tell your friends and shop, shop, shop!

We have furniture and fixtures to sell too so scroll down to see a list of those items.  If you are interested in any of the fixtures, please call me at (915) 833-9500 or email me at [email protected].  First come, first served.  Credit card number required to reserve anything for future pick-up.  No deliveries.

Remember our store hours are:

Wednesday through Saturday, 10am to 5pm and Closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday


We cannot hold merchandise, but if you want to know if we have something in stock, call me at 833-9500.  Please ask about specific items or categories because time does not permit me to give you a list of everything in the store.

I hope to see you very soon!

Thank you!
Polly
 

Office Furniture to Sell


Computer-Desk
Computer desk                

50”tall (desk portion is 29” tall) X 44” wide X 27” deep        $50

Desk                     Desk                                 

6’ wide X 29” tall X 29¼” deep    $50

Small-White-Cabinet-outside
Small-White-Cabinet-outside2 white cabinets          

51¾” tall X 12” deep X 22¾” wide    $50 each

RefrigeratorRefrigerator                     

17¼” deep X 31½” Tall x 19” wide        $100

Brown-Cabinet-RefrigeratorWooden Cabinet       

18½” wide X 17½” deep X 36” tall    $25

Brown-Rolling-CabinetWooden Rolling Cart         

15½” deep X 26½” tall X 27” wide with a 12” wide flip up shelf on one end    $25

  Folding-Table

Small folding tables        

47½” wide X 23½” deep X 29” tall    $25 each

Folding-Chair8 Folding Chairs    $10 each

Paper-Rack-90-slotsPaper Racks for 12" x 12" paper    90 slots    $75
Paper-Rack-90-slotsPaper Racks for 12" x 12" paper    6 slots    $25
Paper-Rack-90-slotsPaper Racks for 8.5" x 11" paper    90 slots     $75

White-Credenza Long White Cabinet           96½” wide X 13” deep X 36” tall    $100

Slatwall-Display-lgSlatwall Fixtures, 2 Large        $150

Slatwall-Display-smSlatwall Fixtures, 2 Small    $100

 

Card-Rack

 Greeting Card Rack   75 Slots     $75  Small-White-Wood-Shelf-unitSmall White Wooden Shelf Unit    36" tall X 18" wide X 8" deep

Metal-wood-shelf-unitMetal and Wood Shelf Unit  39" tall X 15" wide X 14" deep

Microwave
Microwave    $10

Coffee-MakerNew Keurig Coffee Maker    $75

  Tall-Slatwall-Fixture Tall Slatwall Display   69” tall X 11½” wide with 4 faces     $75

Gray-Chair Gray Counter Height swivel chair        $15

 

Slatwall, slatwall shelves, brackets, hooks and pegs -- all priced individually.  Inquire for specifics.  I have a lot!

 

Hurry in for great bargains!  Thanks!

Polly

 

 


Cards from the Southwest

Hello Friends!  I know it's been forever since you heard from me.  I have been busy cleaning the store (in addition to ordering, stocking, and making samples!).  Remember, I have been papercrafting here for over 18 years so I have accumulated a LOT of stuff!  So far we have cleaned out all the punches (remember those?) and virtually all of the wood-mounted stamps.  My dear friend Stephanie, who teaches art to elementary school students, has taken everything I cleaned out and she is putting it all to good use.  We are almost done cleaning out ... then we have an equal amount of stuff at my house to work on!  Ugh!  Will it ever end???

Today's blog is all about cards that depict or are inspired by the desert Southwest.  How fun it is to make cards that reflect the beautiful landscapes and stunning sunsets of the desert Southwest.  Or cards that include images of the native Americans who settled this area.  I hope you will be inspired by these cards and want to make some for yourself to share with friends near and far.

Elizabeth Craft Die Western Edges

 OK, right off the bat I may frustrate you because I believe this particular die is discontinued.  I had several in stock when I started making these cards and by the time I finished they were sold.  So sorry because it is a great set!  Maybe you can find it on line -- or maybe you have it!  Western-Edges-die

My first card is an easel card which I believe perfectly showcases the horses and mountains.  I cut the mountains from white cardstock then colored them with Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain Distress Oxide inks.  Then I cut the horses from black cardstock and mounted them on top of the mountains.  Next I created a sunset using Oxide inks Squeezed Lemonade, Wild Honey and a little Spiced Marmalade. I adhered the mountains and horses to this sunset background and die cut the whole thing with a Memory Box Stitched Circle die.  I cut two circle mats using Memory Box Circle Basics dies. The paper I used is in stock at The Stamp Act -- isn't it great!Easel-Card-Inside

Here's a view of the easel card from the side.
Easel-Card-InsideThe sentiment stamp ("Don't Fence Me In") is an old one from Stamp a Mania.  I love how the barbed wire die echoes the barbed wire on the paper.
Easel-Card-Inside

My second card using this die set is a similar layout with the exception that I colored the mountains with Oxide inks Wilted Violet and Seedless Preserves.  The sentiment is from a new Hero Arts stamp set with matching dies called Cowboy Adventure.

Keep-AdventuringFor the inside of the card I used a second new Hero arts set, Cowboy Life, which includes these fashionable boots as well as these sentiments.
Keep-Adventuring

Hero Arts Cowboy Life (stamp and die combo set)Cowboy-Life-ComboHero Arts Cowboy Adventure (stamp and die combo set)Cowboy-Life-Combo

Hero Arts New Die: On The Prairie

Another new Hero Arts die is called "On The Prairie" and include the cow skull, flowers and leaves.  Did you know cow skulls are very trendy in home decor?  I had a hard time deciding on a sentiment for these cards. I thought it would be a little weird to say "thinking of you" or Happy Birthday" with a cow skull!!  So I decided not to include sentiments except on one.  I also was very happy to see how much the Southwestern Border die from La-La Crafts added to the cards. On-the-Prairie-DieFor this first card I mounted the skull (distressed with a little Copic marker C1) and the border on white decorative paper embossed with a woodgrain pattern.Cow-Skull-PastelsFor the second card I embossed the background with Taylored Expressions Ikat embossing folder then mounted the skull, flowers and border -- I used just the inside layer of the border.
Cow-Skull-Pastels
My third card is a real favorite.  The paper is from a relatively new company, Stamperia, from Italy.  The sentiment on this card is from Taylored Expressions stamp set Free Spirit.  The copper border is the edge of the cardstock cut when the border is cut.Cow-Skull-PastelsWhile the third card includes no flowers, this last card makes up for it with a bevy of pretty, colorful blooms.
Cow-Skull-Pastels

Hero Arts New Die: Desert Cactus and Prickly Cactus

More new Hero Arts dies are featured on this next card: the Desert Cactus and the Prickly Cactus, along with the stamp/die sets Cowboy Life and Cowboy Adventure.  I stamped the background with a stamp from Stamp A Mania then layered vellum over the background and adhered the cacti, skull and sentiment over it.Prickly-CactusPrickly Cactus die
Prickly-CactusDesert Cactus die
2-Cactus

Hero Arts New Die: Desert Sunset

Perhaps my favorite new Hero Arts die is the Desert Sunset. On my first card I cut the sunset from white cardstock (the die cuts the circle opening and all the landscape features).  Next I sponged a background using Oxide inks and watercolored the cacti and rocks using these inks also.  I added some silver stars and a sentiment (from Cowboy Adventure set) and the card was finished.

Desert-Sunset-DieDesert Sunset Die
Desert-Sunset-ColoredMy next card features the sunset we desert dwellers are most familiar with.  Desert foliage and rock formations against a beautiful sky of yellows, oranges and pinks.  A lone cowboy on his trusty steed (sounds like an old cowboy movie script!) looks at the sunset.  The cowboy and the sentiment are from Cowboy Adventure and Cowboy Life stamp sets (Hero Arts).  One tip: when you sponge your background, leave just a little white at the bottom because that makes the entire scene even more realistic.Desert-Sunset-Colored
My next card was inspired by one that Jane Smith (friend and customer from Las Cruces, NM) made.  I recreated the scene above but this time included the Desert Cactus off to the side.  I also spritzed the Oxide inks with water to add a little texture to the scene.Large-Cactus-Desert-Sunset

Jane also inspired this card. She made one using three iconic cowboy images (boot, guitar and hat) mounted in the three square openings.  I was working on another card -- trying to create a desert landscape and it wasn't coming together as I pictured it in my mind -- so I cut a white card front with the Taylored Expressions Peel-A-Boo Squares die and made little scenes in each opening.  The top and bottom images are from the Cowboy Adventure stamp set; for the middle scene I die cut the Desert Sunset from black cardstock and used part of it against an evening sky.  Once again I included the large Desert Cactus which I think really adds a nice contrast to the scenes.
Large-Cactus-Desert-SunsetYou saw these cowgirl boots used in one of the cards above and here they are mounted on a red bandana background stamped with the new 6" x 6" Bandana Background stamp from Hero Arts.
Boots-on-Bandana

Waffle Flower Die: Tribal Pattern

The Tribal Pattern die from Waffle Flower is very Southwest and here I featured the die, cut from white cardstock, with strips of colored paper  behind the openings.  The "THX" is cut with the Waffle Flower die Paper Cut Alphabet.
THX-Alpha

I used a similar layout for this card but included some feathers from the Waffle Flower stamp set (with matching dies) Tribal Bear.
THX-AlphaDifferent colors on this card and a greeting made with the "friend" from the Tribal Bear set and the "Hola" from the Spanish Sayings set from Impression Obsession. 
THX-Alpha

For my final card the Tribal Pattern was cut from turquoise cardstock and mounted on the diagonal.  Laurel Burch Spirit Horses are right at home on this Indian-inspired card.Tribal-Pattern-HorsesI hope you have enjoyed seeing these Southwest cards.  If you are interested in any of these products, please call me at 915-833-9500 to reserve yours.  Remember, we are open Wednesday through Saturday, 10am to 5pm and would love to see you!

 


Memories of Mother Book

Hello papercrafting friends.  My how time flies.  We are working so hard cleaning out the backroom at the store that I just have not had time to blog.  The store in going to be closed for a week so please note the dates at the end of this blog post.

While I was cleaning I came across this little mini album that I made for my Mom many years ago.  It touches my heart with warm memories of my precious Mom.  If you still have your Mom please cherish the time with her.  Enjoy the book.

The album measures 3.75" x 3.75".  For the cover I used two transparencies and a colorful heart and square brad mounted on the diagonal.  The book is bound with ribbon threaded through eyelets on the spine and pages inside.

Magical

The first page shows Mom as a baby.

MagicalI think the next page got out of order because here's Mom as a young lady (left) and as a toddler (right).  Mom grew up in Wilbraham, MA and was one of three children to my grandmother Cora, an artist, and my grandfather Bert, an insurance salesman.  They lived in a huge two-story house with a big backyard with a vegetable garden.  Behind the house were woods where we used to play as children when we visited.Magical

More photos of Mom as a pre-schooler (left) and with her brother Robert (right).

MagicalThis page shows Mom graduating from nursing school (right) and dressed in her Army uniform (left).  True story: My Mom was in a MASH unit just miles behind the front as the Army proceeded through France after D-Day.  My Dad?  He was living at home in San Antonio and working at the local Army-Air Force base!
MagicalIt's 1946, the war is over and the two sweethearts married in my grandparents back yard.  Grandmother had to save ration coupons to get enough sugar to make a wedding cake.  They honeymooned at Niagra Falls and settled in San Antonio only after my Dad promised Mom she could return home every other year.  I remember those trips on the train as a very young child.
MagicalBest wishes for a lovely Mother's Day! 

Vacation

Speaking of time flying, I am headed to San Antonio for my 50th high school reunion!  I can't believe it!  The store will be closed from Friday, May 18 through Tuesday, May 29.  We will reopen Wednesday, May 30.

Our sales continue.  If you need a "B" plate for your Cuttlebug you will find one for free with a $10 purchase (more miscellaneous stuff I found!).  There's tons of other good stuff, just stop in and see.

Thanks for reading the blog and stop in soon!


Memory Box and Poppystamps Week at The Stamp Act

Hello papercrafting friends!  It's beautiful here in the desert Southwest with spring in full bloom.  I love sitting outside on my patio in the evenings and smelling the sweet honeysuckle and jasmine wafting in on the cool breeze.  My trees have all bloomed and are growing leaves like crazy.  So it's a perfect time to turn to Memory Box and Poppystamps, two sister companies that are known for their gorgeous flower dies and creative stamp sets.  I have worked very hard to create dozens of brand new samples and a whole new display area.  In addition I have a large order of brand new dies arriving any day.  Here's a look at our display (be sure to click on the photo to see more detail).

Memory-Box-Display-in-Store

Today I am going to share with you a cool technique that I taught years ago.  You can use this technique with any die so look through your dies for flowers, corners or frames and give it a try.  I will be using the Memory Box die Honeyblossom Sprig and will share several cards using this die at the end of the blog.  Let me show you the finished card: SpringAgain, please click on the card to see the shiny detail on the die cut itself.  First, I die cut the Honeyblossom Sprig from Neena 100 lb Solar White cardstock and colored it with Copic Markers.  When I first taught this technique I used Ranger's Distress Stains which come in a wide variety of beautiful colors.  Once the die cut was colored, I placed the die on my craft sheet and pressed my Versamark ink pad all over the die cut.  Then I immediately covered the die cut with clear embossing powder.  I shook off the excess powder and heated it with my heat tool.  At this point you can quickly dip it into the embossing powder again while it's still hot (the powder will stick to the hot embossing) and heat it again.  Or you can let it cool, cover it with Versamark ink again and cover it with clear embossing powder again.  In any case do it three times to get a nice shiny surface.

Warning: Work on a craft sheet or other non-stick surface because if you work on paper, the die cut will stick to the paper!

And that's it!  A fun technique that gives a beautiful clear, shiny finish to any die cut.  I completed the card with the Memory Box Tessatina Border down the right side of the card and a sweet sentiment from Stampendous.

Let me show you other cards I made with this die and technique.

Purple-JourneyMemory Box Journey stamp, paper and Honeyblossom Sprig and Crisp Bows dies.  We have both dies in stock.
Purple-Journey
Memory Box Honeyblossom Sprig die.

Here are some other cards using this technique; it was fall and Christmas when I made these cards!  Catalina-Border-Fall
Catalina-Border-Fall
Catalina-Border-Fall
Catalina-Border-Fall

I hope you will give this technique a try and please stop in soon and see all the Memory Box and Poppystamps dies and stamps.  I will be featuring cards using different products from these wonderful companies in my next few blogs but you can see them all right now when you stop by the store.

Remember, our huge sale is continuing.  We have lots of interesting products on sale for prices of 50 cents to $4.  Don't miss the bargains.  Plus we have new dies and stamps from Penny Black, Impression Obsession and Lawn Fawn.  I hope to see you soon.


When It Rains

Hello fellow papercrafters.  It's Spring and while we here in the desert Southwest enjoy beautiful, mild, sunny weather, we don't get very many spring rains.  But today I invite you to dream of nice soft rains as I share with you several cards made with Taylored Expressions' new large umbrella die called When it Rains along with their Falling Rain background die and Rain or Shine stamp set.  Here are photos of the dies I used.

Fallingrain-die

Fallingrain-die

Fallingrain-dieFor my first card, I cut many umbrellas using only the solid background umbrella.  Next I sponged each one with a different color of Distress Oxide ink and then misted the umbrellas with water to create water spots.  To create the focal umbrella I first cut a white background then the three stitched sections.  I sponged these pieces also.  Here's a tip: I glued the middle (gold) section down first but before I added the pink and green sections I colored the outline of the section with a similar color Copic marker.  Why? Because the white cardstock was peeking through the stitching.  You could also sponge the white background with the same Oxide inks.

Adhere the umbrellas to the background arranging them in a pleasing way.  Add a few handles or pieces of handle to the background.

Once the umbrella is finished, die cut the handle out of black cardstock and cut it into the two pieces as shown.  Attach one piece to the umbrella and reserve the handle part to add after you stamp and gold emboss the sentiment on a die cut stitched rectangle.  Add the umbrella with foam mounting tape.

When-it-rainsWhen It Rains – Taylored Expressions dies When It Rains Umbrella and Stitched Rectangles; TE stamp set Rain or Shine; design inspired by Gayatri Murali

Next up is the Falling Rain background which is so cool.  First sponge a background with Distress Oxide ink (I used Salty Ocean) then die cut it with the Falling Rain die.  I forgot to spritz the background with water but I suggest you should to add more depth to the background.  Heat set the bottom of the background to make sure it is dry before pouncing it with an anti static too (we sell the EK Success too).  Next stamp and heat emboss in white the sentiment.

Die cut the Rolling Clouds (it's a set of three dies and I used two of them on this card).  Lightly sponge the edges with Salty Ocean ink. Adhere these to the top of the background.  Add the umbrella with a silver handle and you're done! Rain-or-Shine-BlueRain or Shine Blue – Taylored Expressions dies When It Rains Umbrella, Build-A-Scene Rolling Clouds and Falling Rain; TE stamp set Rain or Shine; design inspired by Melody Rupple

My next sample is a happy card and it's a lot easier than it looks initially.  First I used the Taylored Expressions Cloud Border to create a cloudy sky.  Then I die cut the Falling Hearts background from two colors of pink, two colors of red and the white "cloudy sky" cardstock.  Make little piles of the pink and red hearts because you're going to inlay them into the white sky.  Cover the back of the sky background with scor tape (double sided tape), turn it over and start inserting the pink and red hearts as desired.

Construct the umbrella from 2 colors of red cardstock and "fill" it with red and pink hearts cut with the TE Little Bits Hearts die.  Die cut the Rolling Clouds being sure to leave enough room to stamp the sentiment in black Versafine ink. Mount everything and add it to a red card base.   

Showered-with-LoveShowered With Love – Taylored Expressions dies When It Rains Umbrella, Build-A-Scene Rolling Clouds, Falling Hearts and Little Bits Hearts; TE stamp set Rain or Shine; design inspired by Melody Rupple

I love the pretty papers on this card. I think it's pretty self explanatory so I won't go into details.
Rain-or-Shine-Floral
Rain or Shine Floral – Taylored Expressions die When It Rains Umbrella; TE stamp set Rain or Shine; design inspired by Kim Singdahlsen

For my next card I switched to a smaller umbrella (TE's Little Bits Umbrella) which I die cut from three different decorative papers.  For the background I embossed the Falling Rain die on blue cardstock.  To do this simply use a rubber mat and the correct "sandwich" recipe for embossing for your die cut tool.  OH!  Be sure to stamp your sentiment first then emboss!  Once I taped and glue everything together, I "colored" the raindrops above the umbrellas with Nuvo clear drops and let it dry.
Little-Bit-Umbrella
Dance in the Rain – Taylored Expressions dies Falling Rain and Little Bits Umbrella; TE stamp set Rain or Shine

I published this Rainbow card a few weeks ago but since it used some of the same stamps and dies I thought I would include it again.  The umbrella is mounted on a background created with the Rainbow die with two stitched clouds tucked under and below it.  The sentiment is stamped on white cardstock die cut with the Rolling Clouds. RainbowRainbow – Taylored Expressions dies Rainbow, When It Rains Umbrella, Stitched Cloud Duo and Build-A-Scene Rolling Clouds; TE stamp set Rain or Shine; TE embossing folder Raindrops; design inspired by Jean Manis

 

Spring Sale ... Spring Sale ... Spring Sale

I am still deep cleaning the store and our sale counter is stuffed with bargains from 50 cents to $4.  There's paper, cards, stamps, dies and tons of fun embellishments.  Lots of goodies that kids will love.  All Christmas, Fall and Halloween stamps and dies are marked down 35%.  I also have kits for making multiple cards with the stamps and dies included for just a few dollars.  If you make cards for friends, your church or school, check these out.  All the paper is precut and some is even stamped already so you need only finish them!  

Please stop in soon because these bargains are too good to pass up!


Poppystamps Garden Bouquet Die

Hello friends.  Today I will share with you several ways to use the Poppystamps die Garden Bouquet, an outline die with lots of open areas perfect for showing a background treatment or inlaying with a contrasting paper.  By the way, lest you be confused, Poppystamps had a previous die named Garden Bouquet (item #1188).  This newer version is item #2016.

My first cards all feature the inlay technique and Lawn Fawn's new paper "Gotta Have Gingham."  The papers in this collection are all very light so be sure to click on the cards to see them close up.

For each of these cards, I cut the Garden Bouquet die three times from white cardstock then glued them together.  This gave the focal image lots of depth when I inserted the butterfly wings or flower petals.  I added crystals to the open flowers and cut one little flower and glued it in the lower right corner.  The focal image is framed with Poppystamps Double Stitched Scalloped Rectangles Frames.Gingham-Green
Gingham-Green
Gingham-Green3 Gingham Cards – Poppystamps dies Garden Bouquet and Double Stitched Scalloped Rectangle Frames; Lawn Fawn paper pad Gotta Have Gingham; design inspired by Jennifer Svare

The next two cards feature brighter, more dramatic backgrounds.  I die cut the panel with Memory Box's Wrapped Stitched Rectangle Layers then masked off a rectangular area and sponged on Distress Oxide inks for a very pretty and bright background.  I added the die cut Garden Bouquet next then embellished it with black Nuvo drops.  To finish the card, I stamped "sending" and cut it out with the matching die.  Finally to complete the sentiment, I stamped "happy thoughts" on the rectangle layer.  One panel I mounted on a white card and the other panel I mounted on a deep pink card. Sending-Happy-2
Sending-Happy-2
Sending Happy Thoughts 1 and 2 – Poppystamps die Garden Bouquet; Poppystamps clear stamp set with coordinating dies Sending Scribbles; Memory Box die Wrapped Stitched Rectangles; design inspired by Pam Sparks

My final two cards are similar, one mounted on stitched ovals and the second mounted on the Lattice Oval Frame. The flowers are accented with Nuvo drops (Apple Green).

HI-2Hi 2 – Poppystamps die Garden Bouquet; Memory Box die Stitched Ovals; Taylored Expressions die Hey, Hi, Hello
HI-2
Hi 1 – Poppystamps die Garden Bouquet; Taylored Expressions dies Lattice Frame and Hey, Hi, Hello

Our Huge Spring Sale

Lots of customers are grabbing the hot bargains!!  We have marked down dies and stamps with original prices in the double digits to $1 to $5.  All Christmas, Halloween and  Fall dies and stamps are now 35% off and we have hundreds of punches on sale for $1 to $3.  We also have boxes of bargains for $.50 cents to a few dollars. 

Besides all the bargains we have lots of new merchandise in stock so it is worth your time to stop in and check out all the wonderful new and sale merchandise. I hope to see you very soon!


Happy, Happy, Happy

Hello friends and Happy Easter.  Today's blog is all about a new Lawn Fawn stamp set (with coordinating dies) called "Happy, Happy, Happy" (pictured below).  This is a very clever and useful stamp set that can be used to make cards for many occasions.  The coordinating dies cut out the three "Happys" which are different in size, font and script.

Happy-Thoughts

My first sample combines one of the happy's with three of the other words in the set.  I colored the words in an ombre fashion with Copic markers and added a strip of one of Lawn's Fawn's new papers and some sequins.Happy-ThoughtsHappy Thoughts – Lawn Fawn stamp set with coordinating dies Happy, Happy, Happy; design inspired by Nancy Sheads

For this card I selected cardstock in primary colors then stamped the "Happy" in a matching ink.
Happy-Thoughts5 Happys – Lawn Fawn stamp set with coordinating dies Happy, Happy, Happy; design inspired by Latisha Yoast

For this card I stamped each "Happy" in Versamark ink then heat embossed them in white.  Next I cut them out and mounted them on a Stitched Rectangle matted with a Postage Rectangle.
Happy-Thoughts4 Happys – Lawn Fawn stamp set with coordinating dies Happy, Happy, Happy; My Favorite Things die Brushstroke Greetings (last “happy); Memory Box die Postage Rectangles and Stitched Rectangles; design inspired by Chari Moss

Next I made a Pop-Up Box which honestly looks a lot better IRL than in this photo.
Happy-ThoughtsPop Up Box – Lawn Fawn stamp set with coordinating dies Happy, Happy, Happy; Taylored Expressions dies Up, Up & Away and Little Bit Candle and Confetti; Lil Inkers die Balloons; Memory Box die Stitched Squares; design inspired by Chari Moss

My last card combines the Happy set with dies from several other companies. Cake-PlateCake Plate – Lawn Fawn stamp set with coordinating dies Happy, Happy, Happy; Newton’s Nook die Love and Chocolate; Taylored Expressions dies Stitched Rectangles, Inside Scallop Rectangles and Little Bit Candle and Confetti; design inspired by Chari Moss

Spring Cleaning Sale

Our Spring Cleaning Sale is in full swing!  We have stamps and dies for $1, $2, $3 and $4 as well as miscellaneous products for as low as 50 cents!

All Halloween, Fall and Christmas dies and stamps are on sale for 35% off.  We need the room for lots of new things coming so come in and enjoy the savings!


Doggy Get Well Cards ... and Spring Cleaning!

With Chloe's birthday just passed, I have had dogs on my mind.  This stamp set is so much fun.  It includes 4 dog images, 5 great sentiments and several other icons to use with these images.  I had a lot of fun making these cards so let me share them with you. Doggy-Kisses-set             Art Impressions clear stamp set, Doggy Kisses

For my first card I stamped the dog with cone then masked it (using masking paper) so I could create a colorful background using Distress Oxide inks. Once I got the colors the way I wanted them, I spritzed the background with water to create the spots you see.  Next I removed the mask and colored the dog using Copic markers.  I stamped the dog paws using the same colors used on the background and "Ouch" with Versafine Black ink.  I die cut the focal panel with Memory Box Cross Stitch Rectangles.  I love the sentiment!
Cone
Cone – Art Impressions stamp set Doggy Kisses; Memory Box die Cross Stitch Rectangles; Distress Oxide background; design inspired by Gayatri Murali

My sister used to call her dog "Licky Dog" because she gave so many kisses.  This pup would definitely qualify as a Licky Dog and the sentiment says it all! Sending-Doggy-KissesSending Doggy Kisses – Art Impressions stamp set Doggy Kisses; Memory Box die Stitched Circles; Spellbinders die Classic Circles; design inspired by Tracy McDonald and Karen Day

Love the yellow and gray color combination.  Here I am presenting the outside and inside of the card.Yellow-Grey-Outside
Yellow-Grey-Outside
Yellow & Grey – Art Impressions stamp set Doggy Kisses; Memory Box die Stitched Circles; design inspired by Reneé Matarese

This dachshund's long body serves as the perfect foil to the sentiment. I made a simple background using the dog paw in the set. Recover-Dog-PawsRecover Dog Paws – Art Impressions stamp set Doggy Kisses; Taylored Expressions die Conversation Bubbles; design inspired by Cheri Bury Recover-PlaidRecover Plaid – Art Impressions stamp set Doggy Kisses; Taylored Expressions dies Conversation Bubbles and Wispy Grass; design inspired by Cheri Bury

Recover-PinkRecover Pink – Art Impressions stamp set Doggy Kisses; design inspired by Dana Warren

This dog is really happy napping with his teddy bear and blanket. Been-RuffBeen Ruff – Art Impressions stamp set Doggy Kisses; Memory Box die Stitched Circles; design inspired by Dana Warren  Dachsund-Oval-2

Dachsund-Oval-2Dachshund 1 and 2 – Art Impressions stamp set Doggy Kisses; Spellbinders dies Petite Ovals and Classic Circles; design inspired by Reneé Matarese

Cottage Cutz Get Well Dies

For even more humorous get well cards I turned to the new Cottage Cutz dies: Chicken Soup and Nurse Puppy. 

Chicken-Soup
Chicken-SoupEvery image that you see in the photos above can be created with the die.  Cottage Cutz packs their dies with every little piece to make each scene realistic.  Let me share with you the cards I made.
Chicken-Soup-2

To create this card, I cut the die from different colors of cardstock then glued everything together.  I did darken the words "chicken noodle soup" to make them stand out more.  

Chicken Soup (red) – Cottage Cutz die Chicken Soup; Penny Black die Feel Better; design inspired by Lois BakChicken-Soup-2

Chicken Soup 1 (yellow) – Cottage Cutz die Chicken Soup; Penny Black die Feel Better; design inspired by Mary Marsh

The Nurse Puppy is very detailed with each icon (bandaid, stethoscope, thermometer, nurse's hat, ice bag, syringe, etc) having multiple parts to make them look realistic

Chicken-Soup-2

Nurse Puppy Get Well – Cottage Cutz die Nurse Puppy; Memory Box die Stitched Circles; Penny Black die Feel Better; design inspired by Pam Mackay

I created the next card by cutting a center step card from a half piece of cardstock (black).
Chicken-Soup-2Nurse Puppy Get Well – Cottage Cutz die Nurse Puppy; Penny Black die Feel Better; design inspired by Janet Axtman

Spring Cleaning

I am giving the store a deep cleaning and you will be the beneficiary as I uncover product that I am selling at rock bottom prices.  I have Grab Bags for $1 to $3 as well as boxes of products for prices from 0.50 cents to a few dollars.  I have everything from stickers, stamps, punches, papers, blank cards, book kits etc. etc!  Stop in and see what you can't live without.  I will be putting more product out as I continue to clean.  Don't miss the bargains!

I am selling all my punches so if you like punches hurry in to get first choice!  Prices from $1 to $5.

Have a wonderful day! 


3D Cross for Easter Cards

With Easter only a few weeks away you are probably making beautiful cards for friends and family.  Paper Smooches has a unique die set called 3D Cross that features 2 crosses which once die cut and mounted one on top of the other, create a cross with a dimensional look.  But the set doesn't stop there.  It also includes another cross, feather, butterfly, 3 flowers, greenery and a small heart!  Here's a look at the set:

3D-Cross-die-setLet me share with you the samples I made with this set. For this card I used many of the dies in the set to make the wreath surrounding the cross. 3D-Cross

3D Cross Feathers – Paper Smooches die 3D Cross; design inspired by Laurie Schmidlin

On the next card the 3D cross is set amidst a spray of pale blue and yellow flowers on very pretty decorative paper.Peace-and-happiness3D Cross Peace – Paper Smooches die 3D Cross; Paper Smooches clear stamp set Easter Blessings

I created the wooden cross on this next card by die cutting the crosses and the "blessed" sentiment from paper embossed with a wood grain effect.  Once die cut, I colored the paper using dark brown colored pencil which brought out the wood grain of the paper.  The spray of white flowers and greenery was die cut with other dies in the set.  I mounted the cross on a piece of white cardstock embossed with Taylored Expressions' embossing folder "Weathered."  This background was then die cut with Memory Box's Wrapped Stitched Rectangles.Peace-and-happiness3D Cross Blessed – Paper Smooches dies 3D Cross and Religious Words; Memory Box die Wrapped Stitched Rectangles

I used pretty pastel papers for the crosses on this card and mounted it on an embossed background.
Peace-and-happiness
Yellow Cross – Taylored Expressions stamp sets with matching dies My Redeemer Lives and Fresh Florals; TE embossing folder Redeemer; Paper Smooches clear stamp set Easter Blessings; design inspired by Keia Shipp-Smith

Taylored Expressions Stamp and Dies "My Redeemer Lives"

Here are more samples featuring Taylored Expressions' stamp and matching die sets "My Redeemer Lives."
He-Is-Risen
He Is Risen – Taylored Expressions stamp set My Redeemer Lives; TE dies My Redeemer Lives, Stitched Ovals Stacklets and Stitched Frame Stacklets; TE embossing folder Redeemer; Memory Box die Stitched Circles; design inspired by Kerri Michaud
He-Is-Risen
Yellow Cross – Taylored Expressions stamp sets with matching dies My Redeemer Lives and Fresh Florals; TE embossing folder Redeemer; Paper Smooches clear stamp set Easter Blessings; design inspired by Keia Shipp-SmithHe-Is-Risen

Alleluia – Taylored Expressions stamp set My Redeemer Lives; TE dies My Redeemer Lives; TE embossing folder Redeemer; design inspired by Michele Boyer

He-Is-RisenSympathy Cross – Taylored Expressions stamp set My Redeemer Lives; TE dies My Redeemer Lives, Ornate Frame Bloomers 2, Bloomers Greenery, Stitched Banner Stacklets and Arbor Accessories; design inspired by Jen Shults

This card features several TE products including the very attractive petite Petals Background.  I stamped in gray ink then sponge don pale pink.  I cut an oval opening and filled it with the new TE die Inside Scallop Ovals.  It's a little hard to see the white on white die cuts so be sure to click on the photo to enlarge it.Easter-BlessingsEaster Blessings – Taylored Expressions dies Stitched Ovals, Inside Scallop Ovals and Little Bit Crosses; TE stamp petite Petals Background; Paper Smooches stamp set  Easter Blessings; design inspired by Kim Singdahlsen

I hope you have a wonderful Easter.  Please stop by The Stamp Act soon.


Bubble Greetings and Happy Birthday Chloe!

When you need to make a quick card with lots of presence, reach for Taylored Expressions' fun Bubble Greetings and Bubble Greetings Spring.  The large open letters are perfect for coloring, paper piecing, doodling or stamping on a colorful background.  To further enhance the Bubble Greetings, stamp them on one of TE's Boxed in Basics cards which are unique 4" x 5 1/4" panels printed on 100lb cardstock.  Each package includes 2 cards of 6 designs.Bubblegreetingsspring

 

Bubblegreetingsspring
Boxedin-basics-pckg-bad
Boxedin-basics-pckg-bad
Now for some samples.

For my first four cards I tried my hand at doodling in the letters then colored them with Copic makers.

Hello-FriendHello Friend – Taylored Expressions stamp set Bubble Greetings; TE dies Stitched Rectangles and Inside Scallop Rectangles; design inspired by Danielle Lounds
Hello-FriendThank You – Taylored Expressions stamp set Bubble Greetings; TE dies Stitched Rectangles and Frame in Frame 2; design inspired by Danielle Lounds
Hello-FriendHappy Birthday – Taylored Expressions stamp set Bubble Greetings; TE die Frame in Frame 2; design inspired by Danielle Lounds

For this next card I added flowers cut from wool felt.
Hello-FriendJust a Note – Taylored Expressions stamp set Bubble Greetings; TE dies Stitched Rectangles and Bloomers flower series; design inspired by Danielle Lounds

My next set of cards were created with the Spring Bubble Greetings and the Boxed in Basics.  For this first card I paper pieced the letters and hung the bunny border across the top (thanks Mary for the suggestion!)  The bunnies' little butts are felt!Hoppy-Easter-piecedHoppy Easter Pieced – Taylored Expressions stamp set Bubble Greetings Spring; Boxed In Basics Cards; TE die Spring Borders

For this next card I created the background on the Boxed in Basics card with Distress inks and the blending tool.  I stamped the letters, colored them with Copic markers then embellished the card with flowers.
Hoppy-Easter-piecedHello Spring Distress Bkgrd – Taylored Expressions stamp set Bubble Greetings Spring; Boxed In Basics Cards; TE dies Mini Bloomers 1 and 2; Distress inks for background; design inspired by Gayatri Murali

I love this next card with its soft pastel colors.  After I colored the letters and the border, I framed the greeting with a spring scene then enhanced the border with Nuvo clear drops.
Hoppy-Easter-piecedHoppy Easter colored – Taylored Expressions stamp set Bubble Greetings Spring; Boxed In Basics Cards; TE die Sitting Pretty Accessories; design inspired by Jen Shults

More paper piecing and another sweet Easter basket full of eggs, carrots and flowers.  I colored the border then cut it out to enhance the unique shape.Hoppy-Easter-piecedBe Joyful – Taylored Expressions stamp set Bubble Greetings Spring; Boxed In Basics Cards; TE dies Hippity Hop and Sitting Pretty Accessories; design inspired by Kim Singdahlsen

My favorite card?  A pretty yellow shaker!  I stamped the very pretty Petite Petals background in Versamark on yellow cardstock and heat embossed it in clear.  I die cut the oval opening and die cut a piece of fun foam to create the "well" for the sequin filler.  Next I stamped the Hello Spring Bubble Greeting on acetate with Versamark ink and heat embossed it in white.  Here are two important tips for stamping and embossing on acetate.  First, be sure to treat the acetate surface with an anti-static powder tool (we sell the EK Success tool and it's great!).  And second, be sure to hold the heat tool well above the surface (about 10" to 12") so the heat does not buckle the acetate.Hoppy-Easter-piecedHello Spring Shaker – Taylored Expressions stamp set Bubble Greetings Spring; TE die Stitched Ovals; TE stamp Petite Petals Background; design inspired by Noriko Fairchild

Bubble Greetings are in stock so stop in soon and see them for yourself!

Happy Birthday Chloe and 17% Sale!

Close-upMy little bichon frise Chloe had a birthday this week and turned 17!  Fortunately she is still in relatively good health and still comes to work with me everyday.  In her honor we are having a huge 17% sale on everything in the store when you spend $30 (after discounts and taxes) on non-sale merchandise.  The sale will be from Thursday, March 8 through Saturday, March 17.  Don't miss these savings on all merchandise!