Absolutely Everything: Dedicated to Creativity

German Scrap

2008-05-05T13:27:00.002-04:00

Here is the German Scrap that I have found. (i/s means in stock, o/o means we sold out already so it is "on order" and it will be back here in a few days.) I am trying to describe it as well as I can, so I will list how many rows and how long it is as well as the price. Sorry this is such a long post but I am a novice in setting up these blog pages.

6 rows small florets-20 inches $6.50 i/s

12 rows tiny florets-20 inches $6.50 i/s

10 rows scalloped 22 inches $6.50 o/o

multiple styles 7 rows 12 inches $8.00 i/s

holly 10 leaves per row, 5 rows, 15 inches $6.50 i/s

wings, set of 4 6x6 inches whole set, $3.75 i/s

really a bright metallic pink, 23 in., tiny scallop, 16 rows, $6.50 i/s

same size as above, white, $6.50 i/s

jagged scallop, 23 in., 12 rows $6.50 i/s

jagged scallop, 12 rows, 23 in., $6.50 i/s

lattice border, 4 rows, 23 in. $8.00 i/s

red mini scallop, 23 in., 16 rows, $6.50 i/s

set of 24 wings $3.75 i/s

set of 24 medallions, all different , 6x8 in. whole sheet, $10.75 i/s

very narrow, blue metallic, 24 rows, 26 inches, $6.50 i/s

black scallop border, 23 inches, 10 rows, $6.50

Things to Do With a Recovered Book

2008-04-29T15:19:00.001-04:00

Click the title of this article above to see what I wrote in a recent newsletter about recovering an old book. Now, here are some ideas of what to do with this gorgeous paper masterpiece.
1. Sew some new pages (made from folded cardstock) back into it, with waxed linen. Decorate the outside with beads as you attach the pages.
2.Take one of those metal page attachers (long skinny, with two prongs that reach up and you slip a long metal piece over both of them and then push each one down flat...clear??...we sell them here.) and attach cardstock in waterfall fashion (each successive page is a bit longer than the one on top of it, and make a photo album.
3. Use the "bind-it-all" machine to create a "booklet" with the right size pages for your cover, and glue in the last page to the back cover. (Now these pages can be anything..all envelopes, sheet music, old postcards...) Be sure the coils you use will fit inside the closed book.
4. If it is a thin book cover to begin with, use it as a double frame for photos, to stand open on the mantle.
5. Be crazy and put in paper that is too big for the cover so it sticks out on the sides or top.
6. Add pages that are folded so that when you open the book, the page folds out, or up, etc .
7. Glue the bottom of a properly-sized-for-the-book box-just the bottom piece (after you have painted or covered it to match the book) onto the back cover so that it becomes a book box.
8. Make an accordion fold that just fits the top and bottom edge of the book, about 4 folds, each about 3/4 inch, and as long as the book is wide. Glue this into the book to create a big accordion holder, for important papers, or love letters (well, if you are going to do love letters, I would throw in a perfumed hanky or two, just for effect.)

So, now I am inviting all of you to make additions to this list. Just go to the comments area below and throw in your two cents. I would love to see some new ideas!

Please give me your feedback!

2008-04-09T18:49:00.000-04:00

I am writing now about the bus trip and the newsletter that I send out every Wednesday evening. If you do not get the newsletter, you can sign up for it on the website, www.absolutelyeverything.com...just go to the "news" page and take it from there.

My newsletter for tonight, for which I am seconds away from pushing the "send" button, is long-ish. But that tends to be my style. Please let me know what you think...too long?...too stupid?...not enough pictures?...pictures are too big...I will listen to everything you say.

Also, we had what I would consider a very successful bus trip last Saturday, among our own store and four other Mass stores. I have been hearing great reports about it all...even the other store owners were pleased...apparently none of my customers threw any of the tantrums they are so famous for displaying here...but that's another story.

Thank you to our wonderful "bus mothers," Gloria and Barbara, and to the other four stores for opening up to all of us. I am pretty sure we will do it again. Please let me know if you liked it, what you would change, what you would keep the same. I am happy to hear from riders from the other four stores, too. I have to say that I truly enjoyed meeting everyone and loved all the enthusiasm. There's nothing quite as nice as when someone else really loves exactly what you love.

This Week in Kate's Neighborhood!

2008-04-06T18:19:00.001-04:00

We have had a very exciting week here...Robin Beam, from Ranger, was here all week, and this past Saturday was the five-store Bus Trip. God bless Robin for being here to help with everything. She ran the make-and-take table, teaching everyone her trademark "bandana technique," which we were all quite taken with. In addition, she taught 3 classes, decorating assorted chipboard elements with paints, inks, etc to create flying creatures, owls and birds, as well as a 16-month calendar. As a bit of icing on the cake, Robin created a "tableau" on our artist's wall, called Kate's Neighborhood (as I said in my newsletter, Eat your heart out, Mr. Rogers...altho I did love Fred Rogers.) Check out the photos for some for the details.
If any of the students would like to tell everyone about Robin's classes, feel free to leave comments at the end of this blog. Robin's "bandana technique" can be seen on the chipboard pieces, where the chipboard was covered in the new Ranger pigment inks, stamped with the pigment black ink, dried, and accented with the new Ranger white pigment ink pen. It really livens up the images.
Additional tidbits and samples of Robin's art can be seen on her blog, www.pearlesq.blogspot.com. Robin has promised to return for melt art and jewelry fun, hopefully in October of this year.

On April 19 & 20, we have Wendy Vecchi visiting the store for four classes. Check out her art at her blog! If you go back in time a bit on her blog, she talks about coming to our store, and shows a few photos of her projects. Other views can be seen in my newsletter coming out on Wednesday, April 9.
Wendy is very talented and will be sharing lots of her grunging-up techniques with us.

A Great Idea

2008-03-25T18:18:00.000-04:00

OK, it's official, I'm a terrible blogger..but I am determined to do better...meaning post more frequently. That said, here is a little inspiration for you. At the last meeting of the Not-Your-Ordinary-Book-Club which we had here at the store, Teresa brought back in her album that she had shown us the month before so I could take a few photos.She also explained what she did and I am paraphrasing here.

This is an "Entire Family" project, as Teresa says, and people are disappointed if they have failed to send in their entry. It is a yearly Family Recipe and Activity-Update album. Teresa tells everyone in the family, well ahead of time, to send in a recipe of their own along with whatever happened to them that year. So everyone gets to choose what to say about themsleves. Then Teresa puts it all together in an album (12 x 12) and decorates all the pages. The album makes its yearly debut on Christmas Eve when everyone is present. Teresa keeps the original and makes color copies for everyone to take with them. So, these guys not only have all the treasured family recipes, but also an ongoing history of everyone in the family, year by year.
Below are some photos of some of the pages in Teresa's album.

2008-03-25T17:55:00.000-04:00

2008-03-01T23:20:00.000-05:00

It has probably happened to all of you at one time or another. You are explaining to your ______fill in the blank-husband, wife, children, parents, neighbor, college roommate, best friend, mailman (Wow...if you are telling the mailman, maybe you should try to get out more and make a few friends.)....anyway, you are trying to tell them exactly what it is you do with all these art supplies you have....and they are looking at you like you have three heads (not that there's anything wrong with that, for those of you who really do.) It is truly each other within this art form that really understands and "gets" what it is all about for each of us.

To illustrate, I will relate a little story about what my children (all in their 20s) think we are all like. They think we sit around and tell jokes and funny stories about our art supplies, using language known only to us! We would probably say something like (according to them)..."So, you guys are NOT going to believe what happened in my art room the other day..." and on & on the story would go, until by the end of the incredibly captivating story to all my listeners, with everyone on the edge of their seats waiting to hear the next word...I arrive at the punchline of the whole thing...and blurt out.."it was...it was... (now tears of laughter are forming in my eyes, and everyone else is ready to explode)...it was the EMBOSSING POWDER!!!""....at which point everyone within earshot screams with delight, some people even falling off their chairs in hysteria...

Yes, this is how they see me. I mean, really, embossing powder??? How funny has embossing powder ever really been?. .Now, glitter...that's a whole different ballgame...

Coordinated Papers & Stuff!

2008-02-26T17:00:00.000-05:00

In, from American Crafts, is a set of papers and matching embellishments, in spring colors and fancy textures. Some of the paper is either embossed,foiled or glittered. The felt stickers are layered,...there are matching rub-ons, stickers, alphabets. This is an easy way to coordinate your card-making or scrapbook pages.
I don't know if this will work on everyone's computer, but when I double (left) click on the photo of all the paper, it enlarges and I can scroll over and up and down to see it all...that should also work on the other photos, but you may not need it for them. If you are rolling your eyes because this is so basic, well, I just learned it, so just stop rolling those eyes.

2008-02-24T18:42:00.000-05:00

These are photos of some of the samples from Magenta, of their newest images. These stamps, along with many other images, have just arrived in the store

More CHA News

2008-02-20T17:58:00.000-05:00

I just noticed that Tim Holtz has posted all of his new stamp images on his blog. (www.timholtz.typepad.com) He has designed some smaller images and created some collages from other images...but there are lots of new images, and they are all available on the cling with foam, so no wood...We have ordered all, every one, of his new stamps and sets...so feel free to do a pre-order.
Also, Quickutz has a new "part" coming out for the revolution...it is a "longer than 12 inch" tray, and it will hold all the new long borders that they introduced at the show. These can be pre-ordered also.

Just in today are the 12 new small and 12 new large stencil designs from Crafters Workshop. You can use these to create doodles and lots of other designs , both on 12 x 12 pages and on cards. I am thinking these would work well with the glue pen and glitter...just a thought.

The new Outlines stamps are here...very fun.

Three new books have arrived today:the first is The Conmplete Book of Retro Crafts,
the next is Creative Collage, by Marie Browning(Stunning projects!!), and last, but certainly not least...in fact, I plan on disappearing for a few hours tonight with this one...it is Crowns & Tiaras...I KNOW!!! How fab is that??? I better order more asap as I suspect that there are a few others out there who consider themselves royalty also!!

Another cool find at Cha was this roll of ballchain, that can be cut to whatever size you want, and there are connectors with it, too...the thing is , this ball chain is huge, as you can see in the photo...so it is great for bracelets, necklaces, or as chain on altered projects or tags.

New Photos From CHA Winter 2008

2008-02-16T15:04:00.000-05:00

I will put up lots of the photos from my trip to the winter buying show over the next few weeks (after all, there are 400...really how long can you sit at the computer right now???) Lots of new stuff has been ordered and some is already here. I will keep you up to date via the weekly E Mails about what has arrived. These photos will just be to get your mouth watering.

Well, really, any news about the stamping world would have to start with this guy, right? Below are a few of the new "hardware" items in the Tim Holtz collection from Advantus. I am told they will be shipping at the end of March.

A Muse Card Classes

2008-02-16T14:43:00.000-05:00

Here are some photos of some upcoming classes here at the store. Jenn Shurkus will be teaching two A Muse classes on Saturday, February 23rd. Check the calendar at the left for details.

CHA

2008-02-13T21:41:00.000-05:00

I am still in CA, flying home tomorrow, so there will be reports and photos in a near future blog. A bit of news--Quickutz has a new long tray for long borders, for the revolution...it will also cut lots of pieces together.
Also, there is a corner rounder that cuts multiple pieces of chipboard at once---cool

Great new papers from Teresa Collins, Cosmo Cricket...new accu-cut dies---think butterflies...
I will wait on telling more til photos are available...I was only able to take about 400 photos..come into the store for the slide show, beginning on friday, Feb.15th, I hope!!

Here's a Chance to Help Someone Else

2008-01-23T13:32:00.000-05:00

Bernie Berlin, one of our visiting teachers here at AE is also in the process of establishing a safe haven rescue place for dogs in Tennessee. It is called A Place to Bark, and hers is one of the possibile organizations to win some grant money for her animal saving place. Tim Holtz has put out a word about it all on his blog, which is where I found out about it.
Bernie has a heart of gold and has poured almost all of her own money into this program. There is a video that you can see, in a link from Tim's blog. She is asking for donations of $10 per person (you do have the option of making it a monthly donation...which for many of us would be painless) but the contest is based on getting the most people to donate, not the highest amount. So, every person counts here. I am told that at last tally, Berrnie was in the top few.
Below is the link to Tim's message about Bernie. I would love it if you could take a minute to read about it. You will need to copy & paste here as I couldn't get the program to create a link.

http://timholtz.typepad.com/my_weblog/2008/01/paying-it-forwa.html

Dry Embossed Valentines

2008-01-19T14:48:00.000-05:00

Here are some enlarged images of the cards on the board. The class is on February 9th, from 10-1 pm. Cost is $25. You will make all 5 cards from the board.

Sale at AE

2008-01-19T14:34:00.000-05:00

We are making way for the new 2008 product that will be arriving shortly. So, here's the deal. All calendar items are 50% off. If it's a calendar, or is calendar related (eg, paper) then it is half price.
Also, as part of the sale, all clear stamps are 30% off. (Note exceptions-brand new Hero Arts sets and the one new Valentine set form Memory Box.) However, as you may notice in the photo, we have literally millions of other sets that are included in the sale.
And, books, books, books..yes, the books on the green shelves in the back (which is just about every book we have) are all 30% off. That's paperback and hardcover...really, is there such a thing as too many books?

Vintage Valentine Card Class

2008-01-19T14:31:00.000-05:00

Here are three of the cards from my upcoming class on Vintage Valentines. The class is on Saturday, January 26th, from 1-4 pm. Cost is $28. In addition to what is in the photo, we will be using Distress Embossing powder and Distress Crackle Paint.

Comments are Welcome

2008-01-02T00:12:00.000-05:00

I have now enabled this blog to accept comments. Please feel free to drop me a line. All comments will be available for viewing by anyone, so try to keep your usual crudeness and cursing to a minimum. I may from time to time post projects here...I am even learning how to post a video...I'm thinking more along the lines of a "how-to" technique sort of thing, as opposed to a scan around my empty living room...but, you never know how the spirit will move me.

For Christmas, Santa brought me an itouch and a flip something or other (that's the video camera)...and I am in the process of learning what cables to use to make it all work. I can already put music and photos on the itouch so I feel that I am up on my game here. I will still have a "consultant" (college kid) home for a few more weeks, so there is hope that I will continue learning.
So, for 2008, one of my goals is to connect myself to the internet and become more tech savvy. However, if I start speaking Klingon, someone needs to come over and turn off my computer.

2008-01-01T19:34:00.000-05:00

Hey Everyone!!
Here's my first 2008 entry...so I guess it's appropriate to say Happy New Year to everyone. I'm looking forward to lots of new things this year...techniques, papers, inks, paints, boxes, mini-books, jewelry, etc.

Robin Beam will be here in April, early on...and Robin is a very talented jewelry person...so we may be getting in some beads and "stuff" that goes with it when she comes.

Laurie Mika's class, in March, on Clay mosaics is full but Laurie has promised to return sometime soon. In the meantime, we can share with you what we learn (and by "we" I really mean "me' as I am taking the class with her myself.)

Micheal deMeng will be back the weekend of May 30 for more fun and games. Stay tuned for those details.

Aside from Valentine projects, I am looking forward to the whole organization series we are doing, as well as hoping to fit in time for lots of mini-books and complex paper structures. We have a very cool folder in the store right now, which will be taught in assorted classes, e.g. the Tuesday Breakfsst Club, the Thursday Artful Cafe, and possibly a few more. We have already done it in the Not-Your-Ordinary-Book-Club, with great success. It can take any theme and I encourage you to come in and take a peek.

Also, we are charging full-steam ahead with "kits" for all the Creative Cafe projects that we present. Watch the weekly e mails for info on those. I'll write more and add some photos in the near future. Meanwhile, keep watching Tim Holtz' blog, as he is posting a monthly "challenge" to inspire all of us to keep trying new techniques. (www.timholtz.typepad.com.)

Tim Holtz' Holiday Hideaway

2007-12-16T14:22:00.000-05:00

Yes, I was very fortunate to be able to attend this great event out in Arizona. There were 36 of us there along with Tim, Mario (who made fantastic meals for us!) and assorted elves. We all had tons of fun together and Tim had created 6 fantastic projects for us to make. There were great little gifts left in our room every night, and all sorts of free stuff to take home. It was like having Christmas morning happen over & over again. I have all the projects that we made here in the store, so feel free to come in and take a peek. They are all very inspiring and I'm sure you will get some great ideas. Check out the calendar for the days after Christmas. I will be doing 3 classes on the Tim Holtz 12 Days of Christmas Tags. We'll be doing lots of Distress techniques.

Quick & Easy Gift Idea

2007-12-16T14:06:00.000-05:00

This is a very cute gift that you can fill with photos, recipes, family anecdotes or maybe you're in the mood for some really evil threats. Everything works in the booklet...that's how flexible it is. Here's how to make it. Take 2 medium sized cards, and attach the inside right half to the outside front cover of the other card. This creates a 3-fold base. You can use your tape runner for this.
Sew another card to the left side score of the open tri-fold. Just use a big-eye- needle and some waxed linen or embroidery thread or narrow ribbon. You can even punch a small hole and use narrow ribbon and do without the needle. (Poke 2 holes, 1 inch from each edge along the sewing line. Take thread from outside through the bottom hole, leaving a long tail--go up and out through the top hole to take the thread to the poutside of the booklet. Tie the two ends together near the top hole and add something to dangle--beads, charms, money.)
Decorate all the faces of the card using decorative scrapbook paper (BUT--before putting the paper over the outside center back, lay some ribbon across, about 20 inches, to wrap around to the front to tie the booklet closed.). Add stickers with room for journaling, and other stickers for decorative purposes. Add other embellishments as you like, charms, ribbon, etc.
Feel free to come in and see the sample in the store.

The Year of the Bird

2007-12-16T13:51:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure what "year" it is in other cultures, but here in the world of stamping and scrapbooking, it is definitely the year of the bird. We have two new bird die-cuts for use on our Accu-Cut machine. If you buy the paper here, you may use the machine to cut whatever you want. We also have some great pocket, envelope, tabbed pages, and assorted shapes of dies. The picture shows the large bird, which is about 3 x 5 inches. The smaller bird is around 2 x 3. I am going crazy making these birds and adding all sorts of embellishments to them...obviously, the bling works well. I am also putting on rub-ons, stickers, bells, etc. The birds do well standing alone as an ornament or strung together in a garland. Mind you, I am not a bird person, but these guys have really piqued my interest, especially because there are so many ways to decorate them.

Go to Tim Holtz' Blog

2007-12-06T09:53:00.000-05:00

...the blog address is www.timholtz.typepad.com. Really, this is an amazing event happening here online. Tim is posting a "12 Tags of Christmas" special. He began on December 1, so today was day #6. But all the "classes" are there online. He includes pictures and step-by-step instructions for every tag...and they are gorgeous. We have almost everything he is using in these tags in the store, and we are putting together a little display up front. If you have any questions, please come in and ask us...also, if you have tried any of the tags, or your interpretation of them, we would love to see them.

If you post a comment to his blog, you become eligible for a prize, which is randomly chosen at the end of each day. The day before the first tag went up there were 25 comments on his blog. After the first tag was posted, the next day there were over 700 comments, over 900 after the second tag, over 1000 after the third tag. By the fourth and fifth days, the numbers were continuing to climb. This is really quite a phenomenon in the stamping world.

And the directions are so clear and well done. Tim does all the photography as he is making the tags...how's that for multi-tasking?? We have been so lucky to have this very talented artist come to our store...fingers crossed for next summer.

I am thinking of having a Tim's Tag class/session...whatever, in the store on or around Sunday, December 16th. Watch for details of this. You can call the store if you would be interested and if it happens, we will let you know.

2007-11-18T16:46:00.000-05:00

We are so excited that Laurie Mika will be teaching here in March, on a Saturday & Sunday, the 15th & 16th (that's the week before easter.) She will be doing a two-day workshop on her clay Icons. I will add more details in the next report. The class will be $175. Here are a few pictures of her work, and we carry her book, Mixed Media Mosaics. We are taking sign-ups now . Class is limited to 12 people.

"Collections" from Julie Van Oosten

2007-11-18T16:38:00.000-05:00

I have admired Julie Van Oosten's art for a long time now and am really pleased to bring her Collection pieces back into the store. The houses are especially intriguing. Here is a link to a neat Blog that shows some great houses. Go to "cain81art.blogspot.com" and scroll down to October 23...the individual houses are all below that entry. I will probably put together a class inspired by this project, for sometime after the holidays.